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GrENEALOGY and BiOGRAPHY 



OF THE 



CONNECTICUT BRANCH 



OK THK 



Churchill Family 



IN 



AMERICA, 



CONTAlNIXa ELEVEN GENERATIONS AND EKJHTY 
PORTRAITS OF THE FAMILIES. 



SAMUEL JOSEPH CHURCHILL, 

Lawuknck, KA>:fSAS. U. S. A., 
Fkbrt-akv 15, A. D.. lOOl. 



L,A\\'RK>-CH;, KANSAS: 

JOrRNAL PrPLISHlNG COMPANY, 
l!>OI. 



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PREFACE. 

In presenting this little book to my relatives I ask but one 
condition, and make but one request, which is, preserve it, 
and hand it down to future generations as you would an 
"heir-loom" of great value. Some of you may not care for 
it more than to read what is said of yourself, and this you 
may criticise and think it is unjust or not what it should be, 
etc. Of course this is your privilege, but above and beyond 
all this, if you will preserve it, and hand it down to future 
generations some one along down the ages will prize it above 
rubies or diamonds, and commence where I leave off and 
carry on the record of an honorable and worthy line of 
patriots. If you enjoy this book one-half as much as I have 
enjoyed the work of searching out the old records and com- 
piling them in a condensed form, I shall be doubly repaid and 
feel that my work is greatly appreciated. 

I have employed several experts in genealogy to search the 
records, and I am under special obligations to Rev. Geo. M. 
Bodge, of West wood, Mass., Henry R. Stiles, A. M., M. D., 
of New York City, Hon. H. C. Clark, of Sheffield, Mass., 
Miss M. L. Whitman, of West Hartford, Conn., and Geo. B. 
Knapp, Esq., of Boston, Mass.. for the complete and valuable 
records I obtained from them, which are authentic in every 
respect and can be relied upon in reference to the first 
four generations. 1 found the book my grandfather, Amos 
Churchill, wrote in 1855 of great value, although it was not 
written for genealogical purposes, for in it he speaks of his 
grandfather as Mr. Samuel Churchill and merely mentions 
himself as the oldest son of Joseph (Churchill. I find it much 
easier to get complete records of families that existed between 



PREFACE. 

1 boo and 1800 than during the last century. In olden times 
a complete record was kept by the town clerk of all the noted 
families; but in these latter days too many of us go on the 
principle of the man that prayed: "Oh. Lord, bless me and 
my wife, my son John and his wife, us four and no more. 
Amen." I have found it hard work to interest some of my 
near relatives enough to get their family record. I cannot 
say that this is a commendable spirit, and I am very happy 
to say that it does not exist to any extent in the Churchill 
blood. I consider the portraits in this book of great value. 
Some of us may think that we are not good looking enough 
to have our picture in a book, but that is not the principle. 
How much we would prize this little book if it contained the 
portraits of our ancestors back in 1600 and 1700. I would 
give more than I have to spare if 1 had the picture of my 
father, born in 1800. Then consider how valuable our por- 
traits will be to our posterity in the centuries to come. We 
should look more to the future and get out of that miserable, 
selfish rut, that is looking for a mere existence of "me and 
my wife" for a day. Great care has been taken in the com- 
pilation of this book and every opportunity possible has been 
given to those represented to insure correctness in what has 
been written; and I flatter myself that there are very few 
errors of consecjuence. It tells of some, commencing life in 
poverty, who by industry and economy have accumulated 
wealth and honor. It tells how others, with limited advant- 
ages of securing an education, have worked their way up and 
have become learned n:en and women. It tells of those in 
every walk of life who have striven to succeed, and records 
how success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells, 
also, of many who, not seeking the applause of the world, 
have pursued '-the even tenor of their way," content to have 
it said of them, as Christ said of the woman performing a 



PREFACE. 7 

deed of mercy, "They have done what they could." It tells 
of some who, in the pride and strength of young manhood, at 
their country's call, went forth valiantly '-to do or die," to 
preserve the Union. In the life of every man and every 
woman is a lesson that should not be lost upon those who 
follow after us. In reference to the closing lecture, I will say, 
we are all on the "voyage of life." Some have nearly finished 
their course; have been guided by the " light-house of Jesus," 
and are looking forward to a triumphant entrance to eternal 
life. Some have just started, and, perhaps, think they have a 
long voyage before them, but "we know not when the Son of 
Man cometh," we have not the assurance of a moment of time, 
and the only safe way is to look to Jesus for light to guide our 
frail bark continually. In the Niagara river, above the falls, 
there is an under current not perceptible on the surface of the 
stream which no human power can withstand, and so it is in 
the "voyage of life" if we trust in our own strength, before 
we know it we are in the rapids and human help can not avail. 
Let us keep in the way, neither turn to the right nor the left, 
pressing onward and upward, taking the word of God for our 
chart and compass, sailing in the light of Jesus, and we will 
have a successful voyage. 

Yours in love, 

Samuel Joseph Churchill. 



The Origin of the Churchill Family. 

In the New England Genealogical Register, Volume 2, 
page 36, is the roll of Battle Abbey, so-called because the 
lists of names of the Normans who came from France to 
England, at the time of the Conquest in 1066, were hung up 
in Battle Abbey. In this roll is the name F. de Courcy, and 
a note says that he is claimed as the ancestor of the Churchills, 
who, according to the Leliard, were of the best blood of 
France, and renowned long before the Norman Conquest. 

John, son of Sir Winston Churchill, was one of the ablest 
generals England ever had. and attained liis greatest honors 
as Duke of Marlborough. The extract above is also quoted 
by Hinman in the account of the descendents of Josiah 
Churchill We see the same name, •■ Winston S Churchill," 
as a noted reporter in the late Boer war, who has just made 
his first speech at Westminister. 

Dealing with Mr. Churchill's maiden speech, Mr. Dillion 
paid it a generous tribute: "One might have thought," he 
said, "that it was Lord Randolph talking. Mr. Churchill 
scored a great success. He is worthy of his American 
mother." 

There are three branches of the Churchills in America. 
The first or Plymouth branch descended from John of 
Plymouth; second, the Connecticut branch, descendents of 
Josiaii of Wethersfield, Connecticut; and third, the Manhattan 
branch descended from William of Manhattan. There is a 
Churchill coat of arms in Burke's Peerage and Baronetage. 

I am a descendent from the Connecticut branch, or from 
Josiah Churchill of Wethersfield, Connecticut, whom we will 



lO THK CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 

call the first generation. In comparing dates and incidents of 
record, I conclude that Josiah was born in 1615, and emigrated 
from England to Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1635. In 1638 
he married Elizabeth Foot, daughter of Nathan Foot, who 
came to Wethersfield in 1635. The following is from Hin- 
man's Puritan Settlers of Connecticut, page 590: 

■'Josiah Churchill drew eighteen acres in the land division 
in Wethersfield in 1680. He was a juror from Wethersfield 
at the particular court in June, 1643, and in June, 1649, and 
held other responsible places of trust in the town. He was a 
gentleman of more than medium estate for the time in which 
he lived, and of re})utation in the colony."' 

The children of ]osiah and Elizabeth, all born in Wethers- 
field, were: 1, Mary, b. March 24, 1639; 2. Elizabeth, b. May 
15. 1642; 3, Hannah, b. November i. 1644; 4. Ann. b. 1647; 
5. Joseph, b. December 2, 1649, (he is the second generation 
in line): 6. Benjamin, b. May 16. 1652, (he was a lieutenant); 
7. Sarah, b. November 11. 1657. All of Josiah's children 
were living in 1683 when his will was made, excepting Han- 
nah, whose name is not mentioned in the will. Josiah died 
January i, 1686, and his wife died September 8, 1700, aged 
84 years. Josiah's will was dated November 17, 1683. 

An inventory of his estate was taken by James Treat and 
John Buttolph, selectmen of the town of Wethersfield, Con- 
necticut. January 5, 1686. It was valued at 618 pounds 12 
shiflings and six pence. The will was probated March 5. 
1686-7. Some authors spell his name Josias. but I have a 
copy of his will, a tracing of his signature as he signed the 
will, which is Josiah. and I consider this authoritative. I 
will copy that part of the will that refers to his son Joseph, 
(the second generation): 

"I give unto my son, Joseph, that house & horn lot he 
now lives on, w'h all other buildings thereon, & one Lott in 



THE CHURCHILL KAMILV IN AMERICA. II 

the little west field, containing ten acres, & another Lott in 

sd west field containing six acres. Item: I give unto my son 

Joseph my fifty acre Lott at ye west end of Wethersfield 

bounds. These parcels of Land I give unto my son Joseph 

and to his heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever. I doe 

give unto my son Joseph after the decease of my dear wife 

Elizabeth & to his heirs forever of his own body lawfully 

begotton, five acres in the great swamp & two acres of 

meadow lying towards the lower end of sd meadow, & half my 

five acre lott, be it more or less, at the upper end of the great 

meadow." 

Second Generation in Line. 

Joseph, born December 2, 1649, in Wethersfield, Connec- 
ticut, married Mary Toucey May 13. 1674, They had nine 
children, all born in Wethersfield. i, Alary, b. April 6, 1675; 
2, Nathaniel, b. July g, 1677; 3, Elizabeth, b. in 1679; 4, 
Dinah, b. in 1680; 5, Samuel (the third generation), b. in 
1688; 6, Joseph, b. in i6go; 7 and 8, David and Jonathan, b. 
in 1692; 9, Hannah, b. in i6g6. Joseph's will was dated 
April I, 1699, which he made on his death-bed. He died the 
same date. His estate was appraised at 461 pounds. 

Third Generation in Line. 

Samuel (an ensign), born in 1688, and married June 26, 
1717, Martha Boardman. daughter of Daniel and Hannah 
(Wright) Boardman. She was born December 19, 1695. 
They resided at the south end of Newington parish (then a 
part of Wethersfield ), on land inherited from his grandfather, 
Josiqh. Ensign Samuel was a leading man in the parish. 
He was of the first foot company on alarm in 1757 to go to the 
relief of Fort Edward from Sheffield, Massachusetts. They had 
six children, all born in Newington parish, i, Giles, b. June 
II, 1718; 2, Samuel, b. April 27, 1721, (he is the fourth gen- 
eration); 3, Charles (a captain), b. December 31, 1723; 4, 



12 THE CONNF.CTlCUr BRANCH OF 

Jesse (a deacon), b. August 31, 1726; 5, Benjamin, b. April 
10, 1729; 6, William, b. November 6, 1732. The father died 
July 21, 1767. His wife died December 14. 1780. Their 
tombstones still exist in Newington graveyard. 

Fourth Oeneratin ino Line. 

Samuel, born April 27. 1721, in Newington parish, Connec- 
ticut. He married Thankful Hewitt, and settled in Sheffield, 
Massachusetts. They had ten children. i. Marthy, b. Jan- 
uary 14, 1747; 2, Joseph, b. February 28, 1749, (he is the 
fifth generation); 3, LjTdia, b. May 22, 1751: 4, Louis, b. 
May 30. 1753: 5. Thankful, b. March 7, 1755; 6. Samuel, b. 
May 20, 1756; 7, John, b. March 21, 1758; 8, Silas, b. Janu- 
ary 12, 1760; 9, William, b. February 10, 1763; 10, Ezekiel, 
b. June 27, 1765. All born in Sheffield, Massachusetts. 

Wishing to settle his children around him he traded his 
farm in Sheffield, estimated at $3,000, and took a deed to 
3,000 acres of land in the town of Hubbardton. Rutland 
county. Vermont. He located his land, which was nearly all 
timber, cleared a place and built a log house, and in the 
spring of 1775 moved his family and considered himself set- 
tled for life. 

On July 6, 1777, General St. Clair evacuated Ticonderoga. 
On the same day a party of Indians and Tories, painted like 
Indians, commanded by a Captain Sherwood, came into the 
town and made a number of prisoners. General St. Clair 
passed through the town the same day and left Colonels War- 
ren Francis and Hale with their regiments as a rear guard. 
They encamped on the farm owned by John Sellick, a little 
north of where the Baptist church now stands. On the morn- 
ing of the 7th of July, Colonel Warren sent a detachment of 
soldiers to warn Samuel Churchill, who was north of his 
encampment, of his danger and to assist them to escape. 
They immediately started. The women and children were 



IHE CHL'RCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. I3 

mounted on three horses and the men on foot. They had got 
but a little way when the battle commenced. They all pushed 
on as fast as possible until they were among the slaughtering 
balls, and two horses were wounded. Mrs. Churchill, when 
she saw her horse was wounded, jumped from his back, 
exclaiming, "I wish I had a gun; I would give them what 
they deserve." They all retreated back to their house except 
John and Silas Churchill, who had their guns and entered 
into the battle and fought bravely. Silas was taken prisoner, 
but John made his escape and went back to the house, where 
they were all surprised and taken prisoners by Captain Sher- 
wood and his party, who, after plundering the house of all 
the provisions he could find, most of the clothing and every 
thing else he could use, the barbarous wretch ordered the 
women and children to leave it or he would burn the whole 
together; at any rate the house should be burnt. One of the 
young women, taking her bed in her arms with a heavy heart, 
proceeded to the door, then let it fall, saying: ''You have 
taken all our provisions, all our men prisoners, and now how 
can you be so cruel as to burn our house?" Saying this she 
fainted and fell to the fioor. This, with the cries and entreat- 
ies of the others so softened his savage heart that he left them 
their shelter. 

Samuel Churchill, the head of the family, was taken some 
distance from the house into the woods by the Indians and 
tied to a tree, and dry brush piled up around him, they often 
saying to him: '-Tell us where your flour is, you old rebel," 
Sherwood suspecting that he had some concealed which they 
had not yet found. After keeping him bound to the tree 
three or four hours, questioning him about his flour, threat- 
ening and taunting him, and he constantly asserting that he 
had none; they had got it all, etc , and while in the act of set- 
ting fire to the brush Sherwood came forward and ordered 



14 THE CONNECl'lCUr BRANCH OF 

them to desist, being thoroughly convinced that he had none. 
His cattle and hogs were killed, and such parts as they 
could use were taken, and each one of them was ordered 
to take as much as he could carry. They then took the father 
and his two sons, John and Silas, with others, and marched 
them off to Ticonderoga. The mother and her remaining 
seven children being left destitute of provisions could not 
remain there, so they, with what clothing was left them and 
some blankets fixed off as well as they could, with two horses, 
which had been secreted. Those that could not walk were 
mounted on the two horses with what baggage they had. 
Thus equipped, this disconsolate family started on the dreary 
and wearisome journey through the wilderness, for the place 
of their former residence in Sheffield, Massachusetts; but 
instead of taking the most direct route, they took a round- 
about way in order to avoid the enemy, crossing over the 
Green mountains to Connecticut, and thence re-crossing 
to Massachusetts, their old home, a distance, as they traveled, 
of not less than 350 miles. Much of the way there was 
scarcely any road and but few inhabitants. They were about 
three weeks on the journey. Their progress was slow and 
distressing, but the mother, being a resolute and perserving 
character, led the expedition with much fortitude. The men, 
who were prisoners at Ticonderoga, were set at work in 
the day tinie, and at night confined in the cells. Samuel 
Churchill and his neighbor. Hickok. were set at boating wood 
across Lake Champlain. At first a number of British soldiers 
would go with them as guards, but as they worked faithfully 
and manifested no discontent, they were sent off with but one 
soldier. Him they persuaded to go with them, and so fasten- 
ing the boat on the eastern shore of the lake, they left for their 
homes in Hubbardton, a distance of about fifteen miles. 
Here they found nothing but desolation, carnage and putre- 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 15 

faction. Not a live human being was found to gain any 
intelligence from or condole with. In Hickok's house lay the 
putrid body of a man. This they buried, and then proceeded 
over the battle ground. Here they could discover nothing 
but a mass of scattered fragments of putrid carcasses, cloth- 
ing, firearms, and direful desolation. Proceeding on to 
Churchill's house where he had left his family and all he held 
most dear on earth, what a heart-sickening scene presented 
itself. Nothing could they behold but death, desolation and 
destruction. 

Here, where a few weeks before was a happy family, all in 
health and prosperity, now no living creature to be found. 
There was the tree to which he had been bound, the brush 
lying around and the fire-brand amongst it. They left these 
dreary, heart-sickening scenes and proceeded on to Castletort 
where Hickok found his family in health and safety. But 
Churchill, not finding his family or gaining any intelligence 
concerning them, wended his weary way on foot and alone to 
the place from which he had formerly moved. Here, with a 
grateful heart, he found his family, which had arrived some 
days before, safe and in good health. His two boys remained 
prisoners until October when they were retaken by Colonel 
Brown. 

In the fall Churchill moved his family to Castleton, ten 
miles from his home, and with his boys went to his home and 
saved some of his corn and potatoes, cut and laid up some 
poor hay for his horses, and in the winter of 1778, moved his 
family home in Hubbardton where they thereafter lived in 
peace. He gave each of his children 100 acres of land, 
nine of whom settled near him, and he, by strict economy, 
prudence and industry obtained a competence. He died Jan- 
uary. 1 80 1, at the advanced age of 80 years. His wife died 
the following September, aged 80 years. 



1 6 THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 

Fifth Generation in Line. 

Joseph Chut'chill, the oldest son of Samuel, was born in 
Sheffield, Massachusetts, February 2M. 1749, and moved to 
Hubbardton, \'ermont. in the winter of 1783. He married 
Ame Stiles December 7. 1773. They had twelve children, as 
follows: I. Amos. b. October i. 1774; 2, Worthy L. , b. May 
13. 1776; 3. Levica, b. March 19, 1779; 4, Sylvia, b. August 
24. 1781: 5. Cyrus, b. February 9. 1783; 6. Huldah, b. 
November 12. 1785; 7, Charles, b. December 10. 1787; 8, 
Roxana. b. No\ember 19. 1789: 9. Daniel, b. January 4. 1792; 
10, Alvah. b. May 15. 1794; 11. Joseph, b. September 9, 
1796; 12. Ame, b. October. 1798. The mother died Decem- 
ber 9, 1836: age. 82. The children all li\ed to be men and 
women. The youngest that died was 24 years old. His 
fourth son was killed by the Indians December 31. 1813, at 
Black Rock. 

Joseph Churchill was much employed as agent by the set- 
tlers in their land troubles. He served as justice of the peace 
and as selectman many years. He was a very stout man and 
a great mower in his prime. As an instance of his great 
strength, he once carried two strong men up three steps 
through a door, in spite of strenuous etforts at resistance. 
His descendents were scattered over six different states, his 
oldest son Amos onlv remaining in \'ermont. He died of a 
cancer March 21. 1820: aged 72 years. 

Sixth Generation in Line. 

Amos Churchill, the oldest son of Joseph Churchill, was 
born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, October i, 1774, and moved 
to Hubbardton, Vermont, with his father in 1783. On Janu- 
ary 20, 1799, he was married to Nabba Haven, who was born 
May 23, 1776, and died September 2, 1842. They had five 
children: 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILV IN AMERICA. 1 7 

1. Louisa, born October 21, 1799, married Ebenezer 
Cook, who died in the prime of life. She lived to see her 
greac-grandchildren. They had two children: i, Aurilla, 
who married Chancy Fay. They lived to an advanced age. 
Now dead. 2, Elisha, who married Minerva Flag. They 
had six children. She is living. He died October 17, 1887, 

2. Samuel Sumner. (See seventh generation.) 

3. Orrilla, born September 23, 1802. Died August 4, 1803. 

4. Isaac Newton, born July 14, 1805, married Margaret 
Ann Perry in 1832. They had two children. i, Milton P., 
born March 15, 1833. He married Emma E. Cutts October 
4, i860, who died soon after marriage. On October 17, 1864, 
he married Abbie Perry. They now live in Fairhaven, Ver- 
mont, having obtained a competence; they are resting from 
labor in peace and quietude; they are members of the Baptist 
church and take an active part in religious service. 2, Eliza, 
born December 5, 1841, died April 20, 1858. She was a 
beautiful Christian character — like a rose-bud just blooming, 
was rudely plucked on earth to bloom in heaven. Isaac 
Newton was a farmer and lived in Hubbardton until after the 
death of his father and the settling of his father's large estate, 
then sold his farm and bought a farm near Fairhaven, Ver- 
mont, in New York state. He was a deacon in the Baptist 
church, a faithful, earnest Christian, and gave liberally to the 
benevolences of the church. He died January 14, 1892, at 
the advanced age of 87. His wife died February 2, 1892. 

5. A daughter, born July i, 1812. Lived only seven hours. 

My grandfather, Amos Churchill, was a remarkable man in 
many ways. In a book that he wrote and published in 1855, 
(The History of Hubbardton) at the age of 81 years, in refer- 
ence to himself, he says: "I had no chance at school until 
the winter after I was 15, when I went to school ten weeks in 
the back room of a log-house to a very ordinary teacher. I 



l8 THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 

never studied any book at school but the New England 
Primer and Dillworth's spelling book; these I learned by 
heart." 

The articles he wrote were first published in the Rutland 
Herald, and afterwards compiled in a book. I find the fol- 
lowing from the editor: " Tlie writer of the articles in the 
Herald, in reference to Hubbardton, is over 80 years of age, 
yet his manuscript is handed to the printer without correction 
or transcribing. It is a plain fair liand, and his articles are 
read with interest. — Editor." 

The thrilling experiences of Samuel Churcliill in 1777 I 
have extracted from his writings. With no advantages, except 
what he made for himself, he got his education by hard and 
diligent study by the light of pine knots in the corner of tlie 
fireplace in a log house. Very few of the educated men of 
to-day could outshine him in prose or poetry. He was a very 
strong man and a great worker. I have heard him tell how 
he worked when clearing up the forests. He would not stop 
chopping to eat his dinner, but would take a mouthful at a 
time of his frozen dinner in between the blows of his axe. 
He was the main pillar of the Baptist church, and gave liber- 
ally to its support. He was instrumental in raising a large 
monument on the Hubbardton battle ground, and on July 7, 
1859, the anniversary of the battle, there was a very large 
celebration held on the battle ground, the monument was 
unveiled and I heard him make a speech. He told of the 340 
worthy patriots who shed their blood and yielded up their 
lives in defense of the liberties of this country upon this 
battlefield. He was a great abolitionist in later years, and in 
1855 wrote the following verses, which show what the "para- 
mount issue" was before the civil war: 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. I9 

THE OLD MAN ONCE MORE. 

The old man once more being somewhat at leisure, 
His friends would address in new style and new measure, 
Being, as he supposes, the last he may offer, 
In taking his leave some reflections may proffer. 

I do not intend to be vers'd in instruction, 
In laying down rules, or in giving directions 
In Science, or Morals, or Faith, or Religion 
At home or abroad, or in this or that region. 

Nor am I at all in affairs of the Nation, 
In Banks, or in Tariff, or in Annexation; 
But this I believe, that the Slavery question 
Is paramount far to all other suggestion. 

All other things talked of whate'er we can mention. 
This thing in our nation will be the contention. 
Will always prevent any just legislation. 
That can be a benefit to the whole nation. 

We may blame each other and cast hard reflections, 
And say 'tis by you and your party's directions. 
That this or that evil has come on the nation. 
Still Slavery and Freedom can have no relation. 

It is not the Whigs, the Know-Nothings nor Locos, 
That this thing will settle and bring to a focus; 
But it is a stanch standing up firm for Freedom, 
By all who are not slaves, and all who don't need 'em. 

But here I will stop, and will not be aspiring 
To dictate our Rulers, nor e'en be inquiring 
In this or that matter, far out of my reaching, 
And much less will I now attempt to be teaching. 

I have my own duty at home to be doing. 

And may I that duty be ever pursuing; 

To God and His people I am a great debtor, 

O, that I may serve Him more constant and better. 

I quote from his book what he said of the girls and boys of 
over 100 years ago: '•Then young women understood how to 
spin and weave wool, flax, and tow. All their garments for 



20 THE CONNECTICUT BRANXH OF 

common wear were manufactured by themselves from cloth 
of their own spinning and weaving. Every young lady who 
could procure it by her own labor had one calico dress. A 
young lady in this town worked at spinning and weaving for 
fifty cents a week to enable her to purchase a calico dress at 
a dollar a yard. 

"The boys of that period could chop down trees, clear 
land, split rails, make fence, reap, mow, thrash, get out flax, 
etc., and if a book fell into their hands it was carefully stud- 
ied. Their progress in arithmetic was not measured by the 
number of pages run over, but by the amount of practical 
knowledge acquired." 

About the year 1846 he married Chloe Smith, of Brandon, 
Vermont, who was a faithful companion the remaining years 
of his life, and outlived him but a short time. In his old age 
he was very active, doing some outdoor work every day to the 
day of his death, when he went to bed at night and closed 
his eyes in sleep never more to awake. He died March 2, 
1865, at the advanced age of 91 years. When I consider the 
life and death of this righteous man I can but exclaim: " May 
I die the death of the righteous, and may my last days be like 
his," ripe in age. and faith, and full of good works. 

Seventh Generation in Line. 

Samuel Sumner Churchill was the oldest son of Amos 
Churchill, born November 26, 1800, in Hubbardton, Vermont. 
He had much better advantages than his father, and acquired 
a fair education and was one of the foremost young men of 
the town and a great favorite with the young people. On 
March 22, 1820, he married Polly Richardson. Her father 
and mother had six children. Her sister Clara married 
Solomon Millington and raised a large family in Hubbardton, 
Vermont. The children all went west. One son, Lanson, 
was a soldier in the Mexican war and was killed. Azro D. 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 2 1 

was a merchant in Leavenworth, Kansas, St. Louis, Missouri, 
and Fort Scott, Kansas. He finally settled in Winfield, 
Kansas, and was editor for many years of the Winfield Cour- 
ier, where he died at an advanced age. His widow and four 
daughters are still living, Samuel was a Methodist Episcopal 
preacher and presiding elder. He, too, has passed away, 
leaving three boys, now in Kansas City, Missouri. Alvira 
married a Manley. He died young, leaving a widow and one 
child, Annette, who married Lundy, an old soldier, now living 
in Winfield, Kansas. Mrs. Annette Lundy is department 
treasurer of the Ladies of the Grand Army of Kansas. 

My mother's brother, Jerry Richardson, settled near Buf- 
falo, New York. He was married twice and raised sixteen 
ohildren which were scattered over the western states. There 
were some doctors and ministers among them. One, " D. A.," 
gained national fame as the proprietor of the Detroit match 
works, and the " D. A. Richardson matches " were known far 
and near. He became very wealthy and lived to a good old age. 
I regret that I am not better posted concerning my mother's 
side of the family. I have written many letters of inquiry but 
to no avail. I will now return to my father. 

He bought a farm and settled in the town of Pittsford, 
just east of the old homestead in Hubbardton. He added 
many improvements in buildings to his home; was a pros- 
perous and frugal farmer. He bought more land, until he 
had about 400 acres. In the winter of 1838, one cold, stormy 
night, his house burned down, and they were unable to save 
but little of their household goods. Having then seven chil- 
dren, from one year up to twelve years old, they had to wade 
through the deep snow, about a half mile to the nearest neigh- 
bor, his sister, Louisa Cook, with whom they staid until spring. 
On the west part of his farm stood a large two-story house and 
two frame barns, the first frame buildings that were built in 



22 THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 

Hubbardton, built by his grandfather, Samuel, the fourth 
generation. To this place he moved in the spring and com- 
menced again. He had a 
large flock of sheep which 
was very profitable in those 
da}s, wool being fifty cents 
a pound. He and mother, 
all my sisters and brother 
were members of the Bap- 
tist church, were constant 
attendants and all sang in 
the choir. Father, for 
many years was the leader 
of the choir and Sunday 
school superintendent. 
Our house was the home of 
all the traveling ministers 
Mv .Mother. ^^^^^ came that way, and 

the prayers at the family altar went up as a sweet incense 
before the Lord and brought down blessings upon this happy 
Christian family. "Whom He loveth He chasteneth." My 
father was stricken with typhoid fever, and on January 23, 
1845, he passed away to the better land, at the age of 44. 
My mother was heart-broken, left as she was with eight 
daughters and the baby boy. It was years before she could 
become reconciled to the loss of her oldest son and husband, 
so near together; and she never recovered her former vivacity, 
but was a prematurely old woman. She was well provided 
for with a good home and loving children, who were all the 
joy she seemed to have in her lonely widowhood. She spent 
much of her time with her children, making two trips to Illi- 
nois. She was much broken down for her years and failed 




THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 23 

rapidly in health, and on January 8, 1862, at the age of 59 
she joined those that had gone before in that land where tears 
and sorrow never come, at her home then in Sudbury, Ver- 
mont. 



24 



THE CONNECTICUT I'.RAXCH OF 



The Descendents of Samuel S. and Polly 

Churchill. 



Eighth Generation in Line. 



The Broii[;-liton Family. 

1. Mary Churcliill was born 
in Pittsford, Vermont, Decem- 
ber 27, 1820. She received her 
education at the home school 
and at the seminary at Brandon, 
Vermont, where she became 
acquainted with and married 
Chancy Washington Broughton, 
t)f Brandon, Vermont, on May 
2, 1843, at her home in Hub- 
ardton, Vermont. He was 
orn July 22, 1813. His father, 
William, was born July 12, 1787, 
at Ashby, Massachusetts, and 
Mhs. MARv (■ j{Kor.;HT(jx. married Ruth Winters on Feb- 
ruary II, 1810, at Ashburnham, Massachusetts. She was 
born April 11, 1785-. They had three children: Phoebe, 
Chancy W. , and John. John died when young. Phoebe 
lived to be over 70 years old. 

The father, William, died March 4, 1831. His widow 
married Jeremiah Robbins October 2, 1831, and died in 1870. 
Chancy W., at the age of 13 years, was bound out to his uncle 
John Conont, of Brandon, Vermont, and lived with him until 
he was of age, when he received $100 and two suits of clothes. 




THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



25, 



He learned the miller's trade and worked at that until after 
he was married. Their first and only child, Charles Preston, 
was born February 23,1 844, 
at Brandon, Vermont. The 
same year they moved to 
Kaneville, Kane county, 
Illinois, where he took up 
a large tract of government 
land. They were among 
the first settlers of that 
county. By hard work and 
many deprivations they 
succeeded well and accu- 
mulated much property. 
In April, 1854, he sold out 
in Illinois and located in 
Fayette, Fayette county, 
Iowa, where he commenced 
breaking the prairie and 
making another home, but 
preferring to live in Illinois , <-■ ^v. BuouiiHTON. 

he sold out, and in 1855 located in DeKalb county, Illinois 
where he lived the remaining years of his life. Here he 
bought large tracts of land, built a large fine house and made 
extensive improvements. 

His son Preston, as he was always called, grew up to man- 
hood. He had liberal advantages for education, and was an 
important factor in the management of his father's large 
estate. In February, 1866, he came to Lawrence, Kansas, 
and worked for H. L. Enos by the month, until December, 
when he bought 400 acres of wild land in Allen county, which 
he improved. In June, 1871, at the urgent request of his 
father, he rented his farm, and returned to the old home 
in Illinois and superintended his father's farm for five years. 




26 



THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 



On December 22, 1875, he married Etta Beers, the youngest 
of seven cliildren of Charles and Mary A. Beers, of Sycamore, 

Illinois. In the spring of 
1S77, they located at Lee's 
Summit, Missouri, and 
engaged in farming and 
succeeded so well that in 
a few years he had bought 
all the farms that joined the 
home place, until he owned 
820 acres in one body of 
splendid land. He also 
has two houses and lots in 
Kansas City, Missouri. 
He is a stockholder and 
director in the bank of Lee's 
Summit; his wife is also a 
stockholder. In Masonry 
he has attained the degrees 
of Knight Templar and 
Shriner. He is noted for 
his integrity and strict business methods, also as a great 
friend to the poor man, and his liberality in helping the poor. 
His wife is a lady of high attainments, a leader in society 
and a faithful, loving companion. Their only child, Chancy 
Preston, born February 24, i8go, died June 6, 1890. 

Now, in order to complete the Broughton family, I must 
go back to Vermont after my sister, the eighth child of the 
family, Caroline Cook, born March 23, 1838. At the age of 
eight she came to Illinois to live with her sister Mary, where 
she lived about eight years, then returned to Vermont and 
taught school several terms, making her home with her sister 
Sylvia. She was very bright and succeeded well as a teacher. 




('. r. RROrOHTON. 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



27 



In 1859 she was called to the bedside of her sister Mary, who 
was stricken with consumption and died May 4, i860, in the 
prime of life, after passing 
through the struggles inci- 
dent to a new country and 
by hard and faithful work 
had assisted in building a 
beautiful home with abund- 
ance all around her. The 
summons came and she 
was prepared to meet it. 
She united with the Baptist 
church when a girl and had 
always lived a consistent 
Christian life. Carrie, as 
we called her, then took 
charge of the Broughton 
home until January, 1861, ^ 
when she went to her sis- 
ter's in Joliet, Illinois, 
where, on January 30, 1861, 
she married Chancy Washington Broughton, who had been 
a father to her in her girlhood days, but now a loving and 
devoted husband. There were born to them five children: 

1, William A., b. February 18, 1863, died January 6, 1866; 

2, Ella, b. January 26, 1865; 3, May, b. May 7, 1867; 4, 
Judson K., b. April 18, 1869, died October 26, 1869; 5, Ben, 
b. May 25, 1871; and now the saddest of all came the 
death of Carrie, May 29, 1871, when her child was only two 
day's old — a loving and devoted wife and mother in the prime 
of life when her children needed her most and when life to 
her seemed almost indispensible. But she was prepared to 
cross the river, and now from the other shore she is lovingly 
watching her dear ones and beckoning them to meet her. 




Mus. Etta B. Huouuhton. 



28 



THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 



At this trying time the father called his son Preston from 
Kansas, who with his mature experience was able to take 

charge of the large farm, 
and with his tender heart 
help care for the little 
ones. Ella B. grew up and 
developed into a splendid 
woman. She had liberal 
advantages for education. 
She was the main stay at 
home. She seemed to take 
the place of her mother in 
looking after the children 
and household affairs. On 
January 30, 1895, she mar- 
ried John Woods, born 
September 26, 1866, and 
the oldest son of six chil- 
dren of Isaac S. and Pluma 
E. (Orvit) Woods, of De- 
Kalb county. They located on a large farm near Waterman, 
which they have improved by building a fine house with all 
the modern appliances and other buildings to correspond. 
To this union were born four children: i, Carrie May, b. 
January 14, 1896; 2, Addie Mary, b. Feburary i, 1897; 3, 
Ruth Ella, b. September 15, 1898, died January 10, 1899: 
Aha Rose, b. October 8, 1899. Mr. Woods was a school 
teacher of note; is a good farmer and a fine Christian gentle- 
man. 

May B. had liberal advantages for an education and made 
the best of them. She was not as strong and healthy as her 
sister in her younger days, but is very bright and vivacious. 
On March 12, 1896, at the home of her aunt Lucinda, in 




Mrs. (ARiiiH ('. Hrouchton. 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



29 



Joliet, Illinois, she married Jeddie J. Kingsley, born Novem- 
ber I, i86g, the son of Henry and Mary (McDole") Kingsley 
of DeKalb county. He has two sisters and one brother. 




Mk. and Mrs. Woods .\nd Family. 



Thev located near the city of DeKalb on a large farm, on 
which they have made extensive improvements. They have 
a beautiful home and are living very happily. Mr. Kings- 



30 



THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 



ley is a business man, a good farmer and able to take the 
heavy end of things. He is a genial gentleman of high 



standing. 




.Ml{. AND .Mlt>. IvINCSLEY. 

Ben seemed to inherit the sturdy business qualities of 
his father. He launched out in business for himself, at an 
early age. He made the very best of all his advantages. 
He was raised on the home farm and was a great help to his 
father in his declining years. He first engaged in the hard- 
ware business at Lake View, Iowa. On December 19, 1894, 
at her home in Carlton, DeKalb county, Illinois, he married 
Alice Belle Cleveland, born October 25, 1872, and the second 
daughter of Frederick Morrell and Phoebe Ann ( Rawley) 
Cleveland, parents of seven children, as follows: 1, Luman 
Adelbert, b. November 27, 1868: 2, Mary Maybelle, b. August 
27, 1870; 3, (see above); 4, Anna Coral, b. August 16, 1874; 
5, Fred Elliott, b. September 20, 1878, 6, William Rawley, 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



31 



b. April 4, 1883: Jessie Louise, b, October 9, 1892. They 
all live now in Sac county, Iowa, and are prosperous farmers. 




Mk. Ben Broughtox. 



MUS. Al.ICK II. liiiOL'wHlVjX. 



Ben is now located at Lake View, Iowa, on a 125-acre farm, 
known as the Sunny Slope Stock Farm, and valued at ^100 
an acre. He also has a 360-acre farm three miles out, 
valued at $50 per acre. He is engaged in raising thorough- 
bred cattle and hogs. He is a man of popularity and high 
standing in the community, holding the positions of council- 
man, township trustee, and master in the Masonic lodge. 
His wife is an accomplished lady, popular in society and 
queen of the home. They have one child, Lois Marie, born 
February 22, 1897. 

In March, 1875, Chancy W. Broughton married Isabellah 
Beers, his third wife. They had two boys: i, Charles, b. 



32 



THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 



June 1 8, 1877; 2, Chancy W. , b. September 18, 1879. In 
closing the career of this good man, much might be said 

of his life. He started a 
poor boy and worked his 
way up through many diffi- 
culties. He never sought 
notoriet}' or position. He 
was noted, however, for 
his sterling integrity and 
kind heart. He owned 
many mortgages on the 
homes of his neighbors, 
but he was never known to 




oppress any one. 



In his 



Lois M. Brovchton. 

sight, he died May 8, 1893. 
over $100,000. 



opulence he was plain and 
unassuming. After a pro- 
tracted illiness, in which 
he nearly lost his eye- 
His estate was valued at 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



33 



The Franklin Ward Family. 

2. Elizabeth Churchill was born in Pittsford, Vermont, 
April 28, 1822. She received her education at the home 
school and later at Brandon 
Seminary, She had an ex- 
cellent mind and was a natural 
poet. She taught school 
several terms, and in Decem- 
ber, 1841, at her home, in 
Hubbardton, married Frank- 
lin Ward, of West Rutland, 
Vermont, the son of Aaron 
and Olive (S o u t h w o r t h ) 
Ward, an old and honored 
family of West Rutland. In 
1845, soon after the death of 
my father, Franklin Ward was 
appointed administrator of Mrs. Elizabeth C. Wakd. 

my father's estate and moved his family to the old home in 
Hubbardton, and for five years managed the estate, making 
a home for my younger sisters and mother. He then moved 
to West Rutland and was for some time superintendent of 
some marble quarries. In 1852 he moved to Fairhaven, Ver- 
mont, where he owned a share in some slate quarries. In 
1856 he sold out and bought a dairy farm in Orwell, Vermont, 
where he spent the remaining years of his life. To this union 
were born five children: i, Adalaide J., b. October 10, 1842. 
She had fair advantages for an education, and was a good 
scholar and made the very best of all the chance she had. 
She taught school for several terms and was a dearly beloved 
teacher, and a great comfort in the home, where, on Septem- 
ber 4, 1866, she married Hiram Benjamin Scutt, from a 
prominent family in Delhi, New York, where he received a 




34 



THE CONNF.CTICUT BRANCH OF 




very liberal education. He also learned the carpenter's trade. 
He was born in 1841. Before the war he came to DeKalb 

county, Illinois, and taught 
school and worked at his 
trade. On August 6, 1861, he 
enlisted in Battery G, Second 
Illinois Light Artillery, and 
served forty-nine months., 
being honorably discharged 
September 5, 1865. To write 
his war record would be writ- 
ing my own, for he was my 
bunk mate. I met him the 
day he came to camp. We 
fell in love at sight and got 
married, as army life goes, 
Mb. Fhanklin Ward. ^nd we staid that way until 

we were discharged. In sickness we watched over each other, 
and on the long and weary marches we helped each other. 
He was a splendid penman and was detailed as company 
clerk, which relieved him of many of the hardships of army 
life; but whenever a battle was on hand he was always at his 
post of duty. On January i, 1864, we re-enlisted, or veter- 
anized, which entitled us to a veteran furlough, this we took 
in April, and on May 4 he was best man at my wedding, 
where he met for the first time Adda J. Ward, who was 
bridesmaid, and this was another case of love at first sight, 
which terminated as above stated. He was in every battle 
that I was in. His hearing was badly injured by being too 
near the cannon in battle. He was a brave and gallant 
soldier. In reference to the battles we fought together I will 
refer the reader to my army record, found in family No. 10. 
In 1866 he located at Joliet, Illinois. He built a nice home 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



35 



and engaged in the manufacture of barb wire. He was a 
great genius and inventor. He got out several patents on 
barb wire and machines to 
make it. He was very suc- 
cessful as a business man 
and accumulated a fortune 
very rapidly. He made 
two trips to Europe in the 
furtherance of his business. 
In about 1875 he built a 
$40,000 residence and lived 
in af^uence, then reverses 
came, law suits on patents 
and disreputable partners 
in business caused him 
great trouble and the loss 
of much property. He 
had spirited horses, and in 
a runaway he was thrown Mrs. adda j. scutt. 

very violently on some rocks and received severe injuries in 
the head, from which he never recovered. He died July 30, 
i88g. I attended the funeral and looked for the last time in 
the face of him, who, for twenty-eight years, had been my 
comrade and friend. His life had been so interwoven with 
mine in army life and business that I felt that a part of myself 
had gone. 

They had two children: First, Frank W. Scutt, born May 
29, 1866. He had great advantages for education and was 
a very promising youth. While attending school in New 
York he became acquainted with, and married at her home in 
Long Island City, New York, Mary J. Payne, daughter of 
A. G. Payne, a prominent lawyer and an old resident of Long 
Island City. He came from a family of ministers and 




36 



THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 




lawyers. Her mother, Martha (Brown) Payne, came from a 
prominent family of Providence, Rhode Island. Frank W. 

Scutt took his wife to 
Joliet, Illinois, where he, 
during his father's last 
sickness, managed his fath- 
er's business, which was 
then the manufacture of 
bicycles, 'which he contin- 
ued some time after his 
father's death. He finally 
sold out, closed up the 
business and then located 
at Hollis, Long Island, 
where he engaged in the 
insurance and real estate 
business. They now live in 
-Mk. 11. 15. S( LTT. a beautiful, modern home. 

His wife is a beautiful and accomplished lady, having always 
had the best advantages in school and society. She is a 
devoted wife and mother. Thev have two children: i, Har- 
rold B., b. May ii, 1890; 2, Winifred, b. May 15, 1892. 
These children are the eleventh generation mentioned in this 
book and the fourth generation living; and I hope to live to 
see their children, making five living generations. 

The second child of H. B. and /\ddie Scutt was Grace 
Adelia, born July 12, 1876, and died November 4, 1876. 
After the death of Mr. Scutt his widow gave up the mansion 
and built a two-story modern house for a home in Joliet, Illi- 
nois, which she still owns and rents, making her home with 
her son at Hollis, Long Island. Through all the changing 
conditions of life she maintained a Christian fortitude which 
is unexcelled. She is well provided for, and may her last 
days be her happiest. 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



37 



The second child of the Ward family was Helen, born in 
1843, and died in infancy; 3, Annett, born January 24, 
1845. She had a remark- 
able mind, and had she had 
the opportunities she would 
have made a mark in the 
world. She made the best 
of all her advantages and 
commenced teaching vet}' 
young. In 1868 she came 
west to Lee's Summit, Mis- 
souri, and taught school. 
She was a very successful 
teacher. May 28, 1870, at 
the home of her aunt, Mrs. 
Pearson, of Lee's Summit, 
Missouri, she married Wm. 
E. Thorp, born in 1833 in 
Illinois, son of Joel and 
Harriet (Stillson) Thorp, natives of Connecticut, and 
moved to Illinois in an early day. They settled at Lee's 
Summit, Missouri, where Mr. Thorp was engaged in the 
grocery and dry goods business. She was a good musician 
and gave lessons on the organ to a large class. She was 
elected superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday 
school and succeeded well. She was also organist of the 
same church for several years. Mr. Thorp sold his store and 
engaged in farming near Belton, Missouri, in the spring of 
1873, and she taught school near Greenwood. The elements 
were against him, and in 1875 they moved to Joliet, Illinois, 
where he worked for his brother-in-law, H. B. Scutt, in the 
barb wire mill. Here their first child, Benjamin Ward, was 
born January 23, 1878. That spring they moved back to 
Lee's Summit, Missouri, and rented a farm, where they lived 




Mus. Annett W. Thorp. 



38 



THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OK 



^ 




;W 


'^^ 


•**> 


'_ 


li^^^^^^KlBHSIfe.! 


v^IJmSJ^pIIIIbh^^ 



for four }ears and succeeded very well. Then they bought a 
120 acre farm near Ocheltree, Kansas, where their second 

boy, Joel Rex, was born 
Jul\- 12, 1882. Mr. Tliorp 
was very industrious and a 
good farmer. They suc- 
ceeded very well. He was 
a class leader in the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church and 
stood high in the commu- 
nity. 

On October 12, 1894, 
Annett died very suddenly 
with paralysis of the brain 
and nerves. It was a severe 
shock to the family and 
friends. Ben attended the 
district school and grew up 
on the farm, and on Janu- 
ary 25, i8g8, he enlisted 
in Company F, Twentieth United States Regulars at Fort 
Leavenworth. When war was declared with Spain, he went 
with his regiment to Cuba. Returning to Fort Leavenworth 
in the fall of 1898 the regiment was ordered to Manila, where 
he now is. I think he is a very good solder. 

Joel Rex was a great comfort and solace to his father after 
the death of his mother. He was a very promising youth 
and has great mental capacity; and considering the advant- 
ages he has had he is far above the average. He came to 
Lawrence in 1896 and served an apprenticeship in the Fowler 
shops of the Kansas State University under his cousin, Prof. 
Ward, making splendid advancement. He is now getting 
$^0 a month as an assistant to Prof. Ward. He is very trust- 
worthy and competent. 



Mk. W. E. Thokp. 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 39 

The fourth and fifth of the Ward family were Evaline and 
Emaline, born July i6, 1853. They were beautiful children. 
Einaline died in February, 1854. Evaline was a lovely girl 
with her golden ringlets and sweet disposition. She was a 
sunbeam in the home only a short time. She died December 
17, 1866, following her mother, who died with consumption 
June 15, 1859. A noble Christian woman had performed her 
life work well and faithfully, and was prepared for that upper 
and better life with the redeemed. 

In the winter of i860 Franklin Ward married Betsy Miller, 
the widow of John Miller, of Fairhaven, Vermont. She had 
two children, Julia and Bert Miller. On August 2, 1862, was 
born their first and only child, Estella A. Ward. She grew 
up a beautiful and accomplished lady. She married Mervin 
R. Hack, a banker of Ticonderoga, New York. She died 
January 24, 1901. Franklin Ward died October 10, 1886, at 
the age of 69. He had been a very strong, vigorous man in 
his day, and had accumulated by hard and industrious work 
a competence. He was especially noted for his honesty and 
sterling character. He was buried in the Orwell cemetery 
beside Elizabeth. 



John Bower Preston Churchill. 

3. My only brother, John Bower Preston, was born Febru- 
ary 4, 1824, in Pittsford, Vermont. He grew up to manhood, 
making the best of all the advantages he had. He was his 
father's mainstay. He was a member of the Baptist church 
and the leader of the church choir. He had a bright future 
before him but he was stricken with the typhoid fever and 
died December 25, 1844. This was a very heavy blow to his 
father who had watched him night and day, from the effects 
of which he took the same disease and died twenty-nine days 
later. 



40 



THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 



The Holmes Family. 

4. Sylvia Churchill, born in Pittsford, Vermont, May 29, 
1826. She was small, sprightly and very bright. She, with 

the others, had liberal 
advantages and made the 
very best of them. At the 
time of the death of father 
and Preston, she being the 
oldest at home, was the 
mainstay. Father called 
her to his bedside and re- 
quested her to take charge 
of the baby, and she has 
always seemed more like a 
mother to me than a sister. 
She taught school, and on 
October 25, 1874, at the 
home in Hubbardton, mar- 
ried Fayette Holmes, the 
oldest son of Pliny and Vesty (Caldwell) Holmes, of Hub- 
bardton, and grandson of Walter and Abigail (Bradford) 
Holmes. She was a direct descendent of Governor Brad- 
ford of the Plymouth colony. She lived at the father's home 
until about 1850, when he bought a part of my father's estate, 
moved in the old home and took charge of settling up the 
estate. He moved a house from the east farm in Pittsford 
(that had been built after the fire for a tenant house), down 
near the old home, and fixed it up for a home for mother and 
Roxy, my youngest sister. In 1858 he sold his farm in 
Hubbardton to his brother, B. F. Holmes, and bought a 
large farm in Sudbury, Vermont, where he built a large 
house and also made a comfortable home for my mother 
as long as she lived. Fayette had some aspirations in 




ISIrs. Sylvia ('. Hoi.mks. 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



41 




Mr. Fayette Holmes. 



politics, and represented the town of Hubbartdon, and later 
the town of Sudbury in the state legislature. 

They had four children that grew . «'-'-- 

up to maturity and one that died in }\ 

infancy. i, Julia Sylvia, born July ^ % '^ 

10, 1849. She had good advantages C' 
for education and improved them well. '- ; «, 

She had a very sweet disposition and F | 

was a great favorite in society. About t 

the year 1870 she came west and 
taught school several terms, making 
her home with me at Lee's Summit, 
Missouri. She was very successful as 
a teacher. She returned to her home 
in Sudbury, Vermont, where, on August 11, 1874, she married 
Hiram Smith, who was a soldier in the civil war — private 
Company E, Eleventh Vermont Volunteers — and lost a leg 
and an arm at the battle of Harper's Ferry, Virginia. They 
settled at Cameron, Missouri, where they built a nice home. 
He was a lawyer and had a good practice. He was elected 
district judge, I think, two terms. He was also elected in 
1888 department commander of Missouri, Grand Army of the 
Republic. He was appointed first assistant commissioner 
of pensions under Commissioner Tanner, Washington, D. C, 
serving eighteen months. He was a man of high standing in 
church and in the community, and accumulated a large 
property. 

To this union were born two children: Sherman Edwin, b. 
December 18, 1876, and Fayetta Lois, b. August 29, 1879. 
They had excellent advantages for education. Sherman 
graduated at the Cornell University in June, 1900, and now 
has a good position at Cleveland, Ohio. Faye has a splendid 
voice and has a great talent for music, which she is now 



42 



THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 



developing. She is a very sweet, gentle girl and has a bright 
future. She lives at Joliet, Illinois, and is the protege of her 

Aunt Cora Holmes. Julia 
had poor health, and in 
spite of everything that 
could be done for her pul- 
monary consumption set in. 
She was taken to her moth- 
er's home in Denver, Colo- 
rado, with the hope that 
the change might help her, 
but to no avail. She died 
at Denver, Colorado, Oc- 
tober 15, 1887, and was 
buried at her home in Cam- 
eron, Missouri. She had 
those rare qualities of mind 
and heart that distinguished 
her far above the average. 
She was a devoted Chris- 
tian, wife and mother, and a great help to her husband in his 
profession. 

On October 7, 1888, Judge Smith married Miss Fanny F. 
Rice at her home in Vermont. To this union were born 
Shirley, March 5, 1890; Earnest R., July 3, 1891, and Phillip, 
June 9, 1893. Judge Smith was born in Vermont April 11, 
1845, and died of heart disease June 28, 1899, and was buried 
at Cameron, Missouri, beside his first wife, Julia Holmes 
Smith. 

Second, Willard Clay, born November 8, 185 1, in Hub- 
bardton, Vermont. He grew up and was his father's standby 
on the farm. He had good advantages for schooling. In 
1874 he married Hattie M. Amidon of Whiting, Vermont, 




Mks. .JruA S. 



MITH. 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



43 



daughter of a prominent family. In 1883 he moved to Rus- 
sell, Kansas, and was engaged with his father in raising 
sheep. He has always been 
a great sheep man and is 
still in that business, living 
at Gibbon, Nebraska. His 
wife is a lady of superior 
mind and refinement, and 
has raised their family 
judiciously. They have 
five children: One, Louie 
Ruth, born September ig, 
1875, in Sudbury, Vermont. 
She was very bright, pretty 
and a good scholar, and 
graduatedat the highschool 
at Gibbon, Nebraska; 
taught school, and on Sep- Mrs. Carrie M. Smith. 

tember 30, i8g6, married Ernest Peck. They have one 
child, Grace Manrene, born August 23, 1897. Two, Robert 
Willard, born June 10, 1877, in Sudbury, Vermont. He was 
smart and active, and a great help to his father. When he 
was about eight years old he would go on the prairie alone 
with his dog and herd a large flock of sheep. On June 15, 
1898, at Idaho Falls, Idaho, he married Wirtley Paine. 
They have one child, Willard Lewis, born June 15, 1900. 
Grace and Willard are of the eleventh generation mentioned in 
this book. Three, Florence Sylvia, b. April 12, 1883, in Sud- 
bury, Vermont; 4, Howard Royce, b. December 24, 1885, at 
Russell, Kansas; 5, Cora L., b. January 9, 1891, at Gibbon, 
Nebraska. They are smart children and are now receiving 
their education. 




The third child in the Holmes family was Carrie Mary, born 



44 



THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 



October i6, 1853, at Hubbardton, Vermont. This dear girl 
was born to trouble, which she bore with great patience and 

Christian fortitude. She 
was very lovable, of sweet 
disposition and attractive. 
When I think how much 
she suffered with her lungs 
and knee, (which was 
broken), I wonder that she 
lived as long as she did. 
She came west with the 
family and the high alti- 
tude of western Kansas 
seemed to h e 1 p her lung 
trouble for a time. She 
was married at Russell, 
Kansas, on July 16, 1884, 
to Albert Smith, son ot a 




-Miss Cora E. Holmes. 



prominent Smith family in Russell. In 1885 they moved to 
Denver, Colorado, where he engaged in business and they 
were prosperous and happy for several years, but the lung 
trouble came back, and after a severe sickness that lasted 
six months, she died August 12. 1894, at Denver, Colorado, 
where she was buried. 

Fourth, Cora Elizabeth, born November 14, i860, at Sud- 
bury, Vermont. She was a bright scholar and had good 
advantages. She came west with the family and lived some 
time with her sister Julia at Cameron, Missouri, where she 
taught a private school. It seems to me that her greatest 
mission in life was to take care of her sisters, mother and 
father through their frequent sickness for many years and 
their last sickness and death. What could be more ennob- 
ling and self-sacrificing than this? How well and lovingly 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 45 

she administered to those dear ones in those trying times. 
Her reward can not be too great, and I believe it will surely 
come. Her natural adaptation and varied experiences in a 
sick room has fitted her for a trained nurse, which avocation 
she has followed for the past five years in Joliet, Illinois. 
She is a lady of culture and high attainments in literature. 

We now return to the father and mother in Sudbury, Ver- 
mont. He was prosperous in his farming and raising fine 
sheep for many years, but finally the crash came in sheep, 
and reverses followed, and he lost his farm; but he did not 
lose his courage. He sold his stock and in 1878 moved to 
Joliet, Illinois, and started again in the sheep business. In 
the spring of 1879 he moved to Russell, Kansas, and located 
on a large sheep ranch. There he prospered again and accu- 
mulated a large flock of fine sheep. In i8go he sold out and 
moved his family to Denver, Colorado, where he spent the 
remaining days of his life. He was much broken down in 
health. His wife passed through very much sickness in 
Vermont and Colorado with wonderful Christian fortitude. 
Consumption preyed upon her from a young woman to her 
death. Her last severe sickness lasted three years. She 
died at Denver, Colorado, August 19, 1894, a faithful Chris- 
tian and a loving, devoted wife and mother. Her husband 
died September 19, 1896, and was buried beside his wife 
and daughter Carrie, in the beautiful cemetery at Denver, 
Colorado. 



46 



THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 



The Charles E. Ward Family. 



5. Louisa Churchill was born January 14, 1828, in Pitts- 
ford, Vermont. She was a strong, resolute girl, with high 




Mrs. Louisa O. Ward. 



Mu. Charles E Ward. 



aspirations. She devoted herself to acquiring an education. 
At the age of sixteen she commenced teaching school and 
supported herself. On April 25, 1848, at her home in Hub- 
bardton slie married Charles E. Ward, of West Rutland, 
Vermont, born March 3, 1824, the son of Deacon Luke and 
Fanny Ward, an old and highly respected family. They first 
settled in West Rutland, Vermont, and engaged in farming. 
In April, 1852, they moved to DeKalb county, Illinois, and 
located on new land. In November, 1854, he sold his farm 
and bought a large planing mill and sash and door factory in 
Joliet, Illinois, where he did a large business for twenty- 
three years. In 1871 the mill was burned and rebuilt the 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



47 




same year. He was a thorough, conscientious business man 
and suGceeded well until the fire, which was a great loss to 
him. In 1863 he built 
a large, fine house on 
the hill in the west part 
of the city, where he 
owned five acres of land, 
much of it in small fruit. 
He was elected a mem- 
ber of the city council 
two terms. He united 
with the church at the 
age of fifteen, and was 
always a constant and 
active member of the 
church and Sunday 
school. Prof. F. E. Ward. 

To this union were born four children: One, Abbie 
Churchill, born February 14, 1855. She had good advantages 
for school and music. She was organist of the Sunday school 
for some time and gave music lessons on the organ. She also 
taught school several terms. On July 31, 1883, at her home 
in Joliet, she married Ferdinand William Schroeder, born 
February 14, 1855, and son of Frederick and Theresa 
Elizabeth Schroeder, natives of Germany. They died at 
Toledo, Ohio, the mother in 1873, the father in 1883. The 
son was educated as a druggist, but left that business on 
account of his health, and in 1875 engaged in the grocery 
business, which he still continues, doing a large business. 
He has also been largely interested in real estate, owning many 
houses in Joliet. They have had si.K children: One, Charles 
Ward, b. May 8, 1884; 2, Helen Theresa, b. June 6, 1886; 
3, Pearl Ferdinand, b. May 10, 1888; 4, Raymond Churchill, 



48 



THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 



^^r^5{''^':''T!SS!8»<ir^ ^ 



b. July 6, 1889; 5, Glen Wilson, b. October 11, 1891; 6, 
Lloyd, b. February 7, i8g8, died May 6, 1900. They are 

very bright children and are 
being well raised and edu- 
cated. This interesting 
family has a beautiful, 
modern home among the 
hills in the west part of 
the city of Joliet. They 
are members of the Pres- 
byterian church and active 
in church and Sunday 
school work. 

Second, Cora Louisa, 
born Januar\' ig, i860. 
Her advantages for an ed- 
ucation were good and she 
improved them well. She 
taught school several terms 
and succeeded well as a teacher. She is a lady of culture 
and refinement. On September 6, 18S2, at her home in 
Joliet, Illinois, she married Joseph Handwerk, of Joliet, born 
December 8, 1854. He is a hardware merchant and is doing 
an extensive business, both wholesale and retail. They have 
a lovely home on the west side of the city. Her health has 
been very poor for several years. She is a member of the 
Presbyterian church and has always been an active worker 
when her health would admit. 

Third, Frank Emerson, born April 8, 1866. He attended 
the city schools until about the age of fifteen, when he com- 
menced work in the machine shops at Joliet, Illinois, thor- 
oughly mastering the trade and becoming foreman at the age 
of nineteen. He attended the Normal school at Valparaiso, 




Mrs Ai.h k >. \\ akd. 



THE CHURCHILL FANULV IN' AMERICA. 



49 



Indiana, for two years, and on April 17. 1899, at her home in 
Joliet, he married Alice Sandiford, born June 2, 1864, i 







The Children of Thofessor and ]Mrs. Ward. 
Manchester, England, the daughter of Mark and Dorothy 
(Isherwood) Sandiford, who came to Joliet, Illinois, about 
1867, where they now live. On October 8, 1899, they moved 
to Lawrence, Kansas, where Mr. Ward accepted the position 
of superintendent of the machine shops at the Kansas State 
University. He bought a nice home at 1334 Kentucky street, 
which he has improved. To this union were born three chil- 
dren: I, Charles Emerson, b. November 11, 1891; 2, Dorothy 
Sandiford, b. February 6, 1893; 3, Winifred Emily, b. Apri} 
7, i8g8. They are exceptionally bright and are receiving the 
best of training. Mrs. Ward is a true, devoted wife and 
mother. She was educated in Joliet, Illinois, and is a lady 
of refinement and culture. Professor Ward has worked his 
way up until he now holds a very enviable place in the hearts 
and minds of all the faculty of the University. He is not 
only a master of his profession but his business qualities are 



50 



THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 



of great value to the state. He has been promoted from time 
to time until he is now superintendent of the Fowler shops 

and professor of mechan- 
ical methods and practice. 
Professor and Mrs. Ward 
are members of the Con- 
gregational church and 
Sunda}' school. They are 
active and devoted Chris- 
tians. The professor also 
has the title of deacon. 

Fourth, Ralph Rollo, 
born June 12, 1870. He 
commenced his education 
in the city schools, going 
through all the grades. In 
|anuar\-, 1887, he entered 
Park College at Parkville, 
Missouri, and graduated 
June 8, ibg3, working his 
wa}' through with some help from his mother. In Septem- 
ber, 1893, he entered the McCormick Theological Seminary 
of Chicago, Illinois. During his vacations he preached in 
western Kansas, where he became acquainted with, and on 
December 24, 1895, at Syracuse, Kansas, married Alma 
Kodgers, born January i, 1875, in Cass county, Missouri, 
daughter of S. H. and A'largaretta (Sanderson) Rodgers, 
natives of Athens, Ohio. He graduated May 7, i8g6. He 
was ordained by the Presbytery of Fort Wayne at Albion, 
Indiana, June 2, i8g6. He was pastor of the Presbyterian 
church at Albion, Indiana, until June, 1898, when he received 
a call to McPherson, Kansas, and, wishing to come west, he 
accepted the call. Here the Lord greatly blessed his labors; 




Hex. 1;. U. WAiii 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



51 



the cliurch was greatly revived and built up spiritually. It 
soon became apparent that he was destined for larger fields. 
He received a call to Ar- 
kansas City, Kansas, and, 
although against the unan- 
imous wish of his church, 
he felt that he could not 
afford to miss the oppor- 
tunity of laboring in a 
larger field, and in Febru 
ary, 1900, he accepted ihc 
call and moved to Arkansas 
Cit\-, Kansas, where he 
now is; and is meeting 
with great seccess in the 
deepening of spiritual life 
in the church and bringing 
souls to Christ. The two 
moves that he has made 
since May, 1896, when he 
started as a regular pastor at Albion, Indiana, have been 
deserved promotions. His record is one that all his friends 
are proud of, and we bespeak for him in his future work great 
success, which consecrated work, superior ability and educa- 
tion is bound to achieve. His wife is a very estimable lady 
of refinement and education. She is a great help to him in 
his good work. 

The father, on account of failing health and hard tin:es, 
was not able to withstand the terrible loss occasioned by fire. 
He had many warm friends that stood b\ him to the last. 
He died September 4. i<S77. The mother, heart-broken l)ut 
not discouraged, continued the business for four months. 
In settling up the estate there was little left to her. She 




Mrs. Ai.-Ma \i. W aud. 



52 



THE CONNECTICUT HRANCH OF 



gave up the beautiful home and bought a smaller, but very 
pleasaut home, and turned her attention to the education 
of her boys, the oldest being only nine years. Her superior 
management, great faith and sacrifice has resulted in what 
has been related in reference to her boys; and now at her 
advanced age she rests in peace and plenty, looking back 
over a well-spent life in the service of her blessed Master and 
the betterment of mankind. For many years she was super- 
intendent of the infant department in the Sunda\' school of 
the First Presbyterian church of foliet. Illinois. She now 
makes her home witli her daughter Abbde, spending much of 
her time with the other children and making herself ust-fid 
wherever she is. 



THK CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



The Knapp Family. 



53 



7. Alzina Maria Churchill. l)orn Janiiar}' 20, 1830, in 
Pittsford, \'ermont. At an early a<i;e she developed a very 




Tin; ix'.NAiM' Kamii.y. 

superior niind and intellect, and it soon became apparent 
that she was a chosen vessel of the Lord and consecrated to 
his service. She was a teacher of very rare ability and suc- 
cess. While attending- school at Castleton Seminary she met 
with a very severe accident from falling on the ice and frac- 
turing her skull, and she had to rest from study for several 
months. This was a school of patience and endurance to 
her and helped to bring out those liner qualities so necessary 
to success in her after life. She was employed as governess 



54 I'HE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 

of tlie seminary at Castleton, Vermont, where she became 
acquainted with and married George Gushing Knapp, born 
October 30, 1S23, at Lyndon, Vermont. He was the eighth 
generation from William Knapp, the emigrant, who came to 
this country in 1630, and settled in Watertown, Massachu- 
setts. He is supposed to have come from the county of 
Suffolk in England, where now resides a Rev. Mr. Knapp, 
vicar of Evesham. He lives in a charming old house (the 
vicarage) several hundred years old. 

His grandfather James was born May 26. 1767, in Peter- 
sham, Massachusetts, and married Louis Stearns November 

26, 1787. She was born x\ugust 4, 1766, died February 11, 
1841. They had six sons and four daughters. They removed 
to Danville, Vermont, in 1807, and to Lyndon, Vermont, in 
1817, where he died November 6, 1839. 

His father, John, was born December 5, 1797, at Lyndon, 
Vermont, and married Sally Gushing January i, 1823, who 
died December 28, the same year, leaving a baby, George 
Gushing, our subject. The second marriage was to Gynthia 
W. Hubbard on January 10, 1825. She was a most estimable 
woman and was a real mother to the little motherless babe. 
From this union were born Gharles Mason, July 14, 1827, died 
December 15, 1862; Horace Garter, May 11, 1829, died May 

27, 1899; Sally Paulina, January 24, 1833, married John G. 
Hunt; Elizabeth P., May 4, 1878, married Jesse B. Losey, 
died December 28, 1898; John, the father, died March 30, 
1865; and now I introduce the reader to Mrs. Knapp, who 
has written a sketch of her life in Turkey, which appears in 
her own words: 

MRS. KNAPP'S SKETCH. 

We were married September 6, 1855, in the Congregational church in 
Castleton, Vermont, by Dr. Child. My husband, George C. Knapp, from 
Ben.son, Vermont, graduated from the Theological Seminary at Andover, Ver- 
mont. He prepared for college at Burr Seminary, Vermont, and took his 



THE CHURCHILL KAMILV IN AMERICA. 55 

college course at Middlebury, Vermont. He was under appointment for the 
American Board of Foreign Missions at the time of our marriage, and was 
ordained the next day after at Rutland, Vermont. 

We visited his friends and relatives in Lindon, Vermont, which was his 
native place, and they, also my friends in Castleton, generously helped 
us in our outfit We started on our mission the early part of October 
Rev. O. P. Allen and wife, Rev. Mr. Aiken and wife and Dr. Haskell accom- 
panied us as far as Smyrna. We went in the Georgiana, a small sail- 
ing vessel. We encountered a great storm the second day out when the 
second-mate was washed overboard and drowned. We had another severe 
storm among the islands, and our captain become so drunk that the mission- 
aries had to take the chart and compass and steer the vessel though the 
archipelago in the bay of Smyrna, where we arrived the last of November. 
We were welcomed and cared for by missionaries residing there. Oh how 
hungry we were! How good everything tasted, and it seemed as though 
we could not get enough of the black native bread to eat. How strange 
everything seemed The dress of the people, their language, their man- 
ners—everything was so different that I was surprised to hear a dog bark 
or a rooster crow as I had been accustomed to at home. We spent three 
months in Smyrna, studying the language of the people for whom we were 
to labor. Our destination was Diarbekir, in eastern Turkey. As soon as 
spring opened, so that we could travel in the interior, we started for our 
future home We went in a steamboat to Alexandretta, and from thence on 
horseback, arriving in Diarbekir the first of April. This is a large walled 
city of 70,000 inhabitants, situated on the Tigris river on a broad plain and 
very hot in summer. I began very soon to hold meetings with the women, 
but with my imperfect language my talks were very simple. I also em- 
ployed a boy who could read well to go around to the houses with me and 
teach the women to read. In this way I learned the language so I could 
understand the people very soon. But, accustomed as we both were to 
Vermont climate, we could not endure the climate of Diarbekir; and by 
the time we had been there two years the fever and ague had reduced us 
much. In the spring of 1858, we, with our associates. Rev. and Mrs. 
Walker and Dr. and Mrs. Nutting, sailed down the Tigris on a raft made of 
skins filled with air to attend the annual meeting of the mission. While 
there we were advi.sed to seek a higher elevation for the summer with a view 
of improving our health. We had heard of the city of Bitles, up among the 
mountains, but no missionary had ever visited the place. 

It was decided to spend the summer there. Accordingly, the 2Sth of May, 



56 THE CONNEClICUr BRANCH OF 

1858, found us wending our way through the irregular, narrow streets on 
horseback in the city of Bitles What curosities we were! They had ne^er 
seen an European, and they wondered what we were A crowd followed us, 
and we only escaped from violence by the word " Englase " (English) being 
whispered, as at that time the English were helping the Turks against the 
Russians. We had sent a man ahead to secure a house for us, and we were 
very glad to get into it and lock the doors to keep the crowd from pressing 
upon us. They sta\ed around on the flat roofs of the adjoining houses for 
two or three days trying to get a sight of us. Finally they left us free as we 
thought to get out in the open air a little. We started out on horseback 
toward the mountains but they followed us and wondered where we were 
going — perhaps to the mountains to tind their gold — perhaps to sacrifice 
their children to our gods. And because Mr Knapp performed the usual 
courtesies to me they said he must be a woman worshiper. They came out 
of curosity to see us a great deal the first few months, especially the women, 
and they soon learned that we would not harm them, but often in their sick- 
ness we could do them good. [ remember once a woman came to me, pale 
and emaciated, and wanted our medicine I gave her a little peppermint 
Such washer faith that she forgot her fear and recovered. Then she told 
all around what wonderful doctors we were, etc. So little by little we 
gained their confidence and an influence o\er them 

Bitles is a rough, straggling city, up hill and down; and although having 
30,000 inhabitants they are scattered, and distances are great. For this 
reason I could not \isit many at their houses regularly, so I employed a boy 
to go around and teach the women and girls to read. 1 do not think there 
was a female in the city when we went that knew anything about reading, 
and very few of the male se.\. I could gather the girls and children living 
near into ni\- room and teach them, and in that way many learned to read; 
and the missionary established schools for boys, but the ecclesiastics of the 
old Ciregorian church did not like it, and they were persecuted. We were 
working for the Armenians and not the Turks who are Mohammedans. 
They broke up our schools and threatened our native teachers. They 
ostracized all who came to us. and the people were so ignorant and super- 
stitious that it frightened them very much and they came to us secretly. 
Some of our best friends would come thus to us and advise us to go away 
before we suffered any more, for they said no one will ever embrace your 
religion. Mr. Knapp would answer, "Well, we will wait on the Lord." 

I omitted to say in the right place that the climate of Bitles agreed with 
us so well and there was so much need of missionarv work there that we 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILS" IN AMERICA. 57 

proposed to our mission to remo\e us there permanently, which they did. 
After two years the board sent out Rev. L T. Burbank and wife as our 
associates in the missionary work. We laad been in Bitles four and a half 
years when our first born, a boy three years old, died. Only one of our 
native friends dared to come near us to offer sympathy. This was a young 
man who came by night. He knelt and kissed the lifeless form and offered 
consolation that was very grateful to us. The next year, when our second 
child left us — a little girl — there was a goodly number of young men to 
stand around the grave and sing with us in the Armenian language, "There 
is a happy land not far away." Soon after this the missionaries were able 
to get a class of young men to teach, with a view of their becoming preachers 
and teachers. After they had studied a while they began to think that 
some time they must have wives, and where should they get them. How 
could they marry the ignorant girls of the city that did not even know how 
to read. They needed companions and helpmates. The mothers were very 
anxious that their girls marry. Indeed it was considered a sin and a shame 
if they did not, and the younger they married the better; but they wereverv 
much opposed to their learning to read. These young men who were study- 
ing, knowing all these things, talked among themselves and agreed to marry 
each other's sisters if they could persuade the mothers to allow them to 
come to school and be educated. We had beaten every bush in our efforts 
to get a boarding school started for the large girls without success, but the 
students' plan worked, as no other line of approach would have availed 
with the mothers, and the boarding school for girls was started. 

Not long after this we had a precious revival — many were taught of the 
Spirit and learned what true Christianity was. It seemed to influence the 
whole city, and how we did rejoice and yet how it humbled us. We reall>- 
felt now that the Lord was taking the work into His own hand and by Ilis 
Spirit was teaching the people more in a short time than we had been able 
to teach them in all those years. From this time on the work progressed 
rapidly; but the extra labor connected with the revival almost broke down 
the missionaries and they were obliged to go home to recruit, which was in 
1866. When we returned in 1868 the Misses Ely, sisters, accompanied us 
and took charge of the girls' boarding school, which left me free to care for 
the boys. The young men who had been educated had been in the villages 
round about and preached the Gospel, and a desire had been created for the 
village boys to be educated. Therefore, we started a boarding school for 
boys, and gathered the brightest boys to prepare to be preachers and 
teachers. I had the care of this until I came home m 1896. 



58 



IHK CONNFXTICUT BRANCH OF 



In 1S77 we sent home our oldest li\ing son, George, for his education. 
He was nearly fourteen. His father accompanied him to the sea coast, 300 

miles, and expected to take 
him to Constantinople and 
give him in charge of Rev. 
Mr. Farnsworth, who was 
coming with his famil)- to 
America; but receiving a tel- 
egram saying war was declared 
between Turkey and Russia, 
therefore he must turn back 
immediately. He gave him 
in care of the captain of an 
Austrian steamer who could 
not speak a word of English, 
and turned his back upon 
him! It was a hard experi- 
ence for the boy, but through 
the kindness of friends in 
Constantinople he finally ar- 
rived safely in Boston and 
was cared for at the Walker 
Home in Auburndale while 
he attended school. T h e 
second son, Herbert, came a 
year later with the Misses 
Ely, who were having their 
vacation. Mr. Burbank did not stay in the missionary work but ten years, 
and Mr Knapp was the only missionary much of the time, and when the 
Misses Ely came for their vacation we were all alone with our two little 
girls. By this time we had many friends among the natives. There was a 
large protestant community — a church of 200 members which supported its 
own native pastor, many schools in the city as well as in the villages about 
in our field; for in uur whole field there were 300,000 people. I locked 
after the .t;irls' school and also the boys' while the)- were away, and we had 
so much work upon our hands that the time did not drag. 

In 1883, in company with Rev H. S. Barnum and family, who were 
missionaries at \'an, I came with my two little girls, twelve and eight years 
of age, to America. The Misses Ely were back then and they kindly offered 




Mks. Alzina t'. K.vAri'. 
(In Arnn>niiin Costume.) 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY 1\ AMERICA. 59 

to look after Mr. Knapp, who stayed in the work. I put my little girls in 
school and stayed with them four years. When we arrived in Boston my 
sons, whom I had not seen for six years, came to meet us They had grown 
from little boys to be men, and I did not know them To convince me 
they began to talk to me in the Armenian language, which they had not 
forgotten. Mr. Knapp came after sixteen years' stay for his vacation, and 
we went back to Turkey for the third time in the spring, sailing April 7, 
1887, from Boston. Rev. R. M. Cole and family came to Bitles, which 
relieved Mr. Knapp so he could come. We left all our children in the 
home land in school. Three years after our son George graduated from 
the Theological Seminary at Hartford, Connecticut, married and came out 
to Bitles as our associate in the missionary work. Six years after, in 1893, 
Grace, our older daughter, gradiiated from Mount Holyoke College and 
came out to help in the missionary work. Both George and Grace were 
able to work immediately with the Armenians, for the language they had 
learned in infancy came back to them so that they could speak with and 
understand the people. It was a great relief to Mr. Knapp to have his son 
to lean upon, for he was beginning to show feebleness. His work had been 
preaching and teaching. In 1893 he had to give up teaching, and he gradu- 
ally failed until March 12, 1895, he passed away. The whole city seemed 
to mourn, and the demonstration of Icve and respect from all classes was 
something wonderful and ever to be remembered. 

The summer after the Misses Ely came to America for their vacation 
and my daughter Grace had the sole charge of the school. When the school 
vacation occurred she was so tired that we thought a trip to Van — three days 
distant by horseback travel and our nearest missionary neighbor — would do 
her good since she could visit with other American teachers. The vacation 
was nearly over, and we were preparing to send for her to come home when 
the dreadful massacre occured, when about 800 Armenians were killed, but 
not one Turk, It was the 25th of October, 1895. The horrors of those 
days cannot be described. Grace couldn't get back and I was glad to have 
her escape the dreadful scenes; but O how I longed for company that long 
winter following! My son George was the only male missionary at Bitles 
at the time of the massacre and they were threatening him. They, the 
Turks, jealous of him on account of his popularity with the Armenians, 
brought false accusations against him and finally forced him to leave Bitles, 
taking him as a prisoner to the seacoast with the intent to exile him from the 
country; but the war ship Marblehead being in the Mediterranean Sea at the 
time cam{. to the rescue and he went from /dexandretta to Constantinople 



6o 



IHK CDNNKC. ICL' r llRANlH OF 



and demanded a trial. The Turk answered, "You must wait. " and although 
he waited several months they never were ready to pro\ e their charges 
against him, and he came to America, where were his wife and children who 
had come with me in July, starting from Bitles the first of May, 1896. 
Grace came in from \'an and met us at Krzroom expecting to come to 
America with us, but we found that they needed a teacher there, and Rev. 
W. N. Chambers and wife who were the missionaries there at that time 
invited her to make her home with them and take charf,'e of the boarding 
school for girls, and she decided to do so, and we came away and left her. 

Now after four years George is back in Harpoot, Turkey, with his family, 
working under the American Board, and Grace is in Bitles with the Misses 
Ely, and I am in Colorado Springs with Herbert and Edith and have just 
passed rny 71st birthday. Mrs. Alzina C. Kn.^pp. 

J.\Nt ARY 22, igoi. 

loio N. Wahsatch Ave . Colorado Springs, Colorado. 



To Re\'. and ]\Irs. Knapp 
were born six children, all 
in Bitles, Turkey: i , 
Arthur Churchill, I). No- 
vember 8. I (S 5 g, died 
October, 1862; 2, Mary 
Elizabeth, b. February 28, 
1861, died October, 1863. 
Third, George Perkins, 
born June 13, 1863, mar- 
ried Anna J. Hunt July 2. 
1890, daughter of Addison 
A. Hunt. To this union 
were born Winifred Hunt, 
March 8, 1892: Addison 
Ely, November 2, 1894; 
Margaret Washburn, Sep- 
tember 7, i8g6. A com- 
plete history of this interesting famih' is given in the sketch 
of Mrs. Knapp. 




MKS. A.N.N.V .1 K.NAl'P. 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



6l 



Fourth, John Herbert, born October 24, 1865. At the age 
of thirteen lie came to America to receive his education and 




George and Anna's Children. 

attended school at Auburndale, Massachusetts, and Worcester 
Polytechnic Institute. He located at Colorado Springs, Col- 
orado, May I, 1889. He is a civil engineer and draftsman. 
In January, 1892, at her home in Colorado Springs he married 
Helen Hastings, born February 7, 1871, at Detroit, Mich- 
igan, daughter of A. E. and Sarah Rice (Hubbard) Hastings, 
natives, he of Utica, New York, she of Concord, Massachu- 
setts. To this union were born Agnes Churchill, October 24, 
1892; Charlotte Hastings, April 2, 1894, ^^^ Helen Louisa, 
December 22, 1895. The mother, Mrs. Helen H. Knapp, 
died August 6, 1896. She was a most estimable lady of cul- 
ture and education, a true and devoted wife and mother. 
This was a trying time for Herbert, left with three small 
children. He had built a nice home and his future seemed 
to be very bright; but how little we know what is in store for 
us. "Man proposes, but God disposes." His sister, Edith, 



62 



IHK CONKEClICUl' BRANCH OF 



was with liiiii and assisted in the care of the little ones, 
and soon after his mother came to make her home with 

him. In August, 189S, 
at her home in Colorado 
Springs, he married Mary 
Specht, born February 7, 
1871, daughter of Thomas 
and Maddilena (Schupp) 
Specht, natives of Wurtem- 
biirg, Germany. She is a 
lad}' of culture and refine- 
ment and a gracious mother 
to the little motherless 
children. To this union 
were born .Arthur Specht, 
l'Vbruary4, kjoi. (Justin 
time to get in this book. ) 
Mn>. iiKi.KN II. K'.NAiM'. Mr. Knapp is at present 

one of the directors of The Echo Canon Tunnel and (iold 
Mining Compan\'. He is a man of rare abilit\ and ;i nuist^r 
of his profession. He is also deputy count\ sur\'ryor. 





llKKBKUT A.M) Hhl.K.NS ( H II. UK K.N. 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



63 



Fifth, Grace Higley Knapp, born November 21, 1870. A 

history of her life and work is given in Mrs. Knapp's sketch. 
Sixth, Edith Alzina 

Knapp, born November 4, 

1874. She is the little girl 

in the family group. She 

came to this country when 

quite young and lived for 

a time with Mrs. Scutt in 

Joliet, Illinois, and attended 

school. Later she attended 

school with her sister Grace 

near Boston, Massachu- 
setts. After finishing there 

she came west to Colorado 

Springs, Colorado, making 

her home with her brother 

Herbert. She took a pre- 
paratory course for teach- ^^«"- "^''^ '' '"■" ^'•'•• 

ing in the most approved 
way in the kindergarten, 
which she has made a 
specialty. and has had great 
success as a teacher. She is 
a lady of rare ability, edu- 
cation and many personal 
attractions. She and her 
mother are now living to- 
gether, happy and prosper- 
ous. Much might be said 
of Rev. and Mrs. Knapp 
who spent over forty years 
as missionaries at Bitles, 
Turkey, and have raised up 
a son and daughter to take 
their place in mission field. 





-Miss Kuiih A. Knapi>. 



64 



THE CONNECIICUT BRANCH OF 



The Pearson Family. 

7. Sarah Lucinda ClHirchill, horn January 14, 1832, in 
Pittstord, Vermont. She attended the district school and 

hiter the Brandon, Semi- 
nary. She had to make 
her way in the world like 
the rest of us, and she was 
equal to the occasion. She 
had a good voice and at- 
tended singing schools. I 
can remember about her 
singing and how we used to 
< njoy it. September i, 
1854, she came to Joliet, 
Illinois, where she became 
acquainted with J a m e s 
Ivodney Koyce Pearson, 
^^ horn she married Novem- 
1 er 21, 1855, at her sister's 
home in Joliet, Illinois. 
He was born April 27, 1830, 
in Rutlant, Vermont, where he was raised and attended school. 
He was the son of James K. and Bathsheba H. Pearson of 
Rutland, Vermont. His father was born April 8, 1799, and 
died March 6, 1853. His mother was born March 14, 1801, 
and died May 6, 1877. They were married November 8, 1826. 
They had five children: i, Mary E., b. February 15, 1828; 
2, J. R. R. ; 3, Helen R., b. November 18, 1832; 4, Josephine 
A., b. February 15, 1836; 5, Edward F. H., b. April 26, 1842. 
Edward was a soldier in the Union army from 1861 to 1865 
and received a severe wound in the leg which crippled him 
for life. 

Royce, as he was always called, came west September 11, 




INI lis. SAUAH Ll'CINDA (". ]>EAKSOX. 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 65 

1854; bought a home in Joliet, Illinois. He was foreman in 
C. E. Ward's planing mill, where he worked for twenty-three 
years, except the time he 
spent in Missouri. To this 
union were born five chil- 
dren: I, Charley Royce, b. 
September ii, 1858, at 
Joliet, Illinois; 2, Fred 
William, b. May 20, 1866, 
at Joliet, Illinois; 3 and 4, 
Addie Elizabeth and Bert 
Churchill, b. November 
2, 1867, at Lee's Summit, 
Missouri. Addie E. died 
May 6, 1868, and Bert C. 
died September 3, 1870. 
They were buried in the 
Greenwood cemetery at 
Greenwood, Missouri. 

Fifth, Belle Minette, 
born April 13, 1870. She Mr. .1. ii. K. Peaksox. 

was a very bright, pretty child. She drank concentrated lie, 
which, after about eighteen months, caused her death August 
18, 1873. She was buried at Joliet, Illinois. 

In tlie spring of 1867 Mr. Pearson moved to Lee's Summit, 
Missouri, and located on an 80-acre farm, joining my farm on 
the east. He built a nice house and improved his farm. In 
1870 his house was burned. He rebuilt the same year. On 
account of sickness in his family and hard times he sold his 
farm, and in 1872 moved back to Joliet, Illinois, where he 
bought a home. Later he built a nice, modern home on the 
hill in the west part of the city, where he now lives. His son 
Charley received his education at Lee's Summit, Missouri, and 
Joliet, Illinois. He is an engineer. On July 15, 1878, at the 




66 



THE CONNECrrCUT BRANCH OK 



home of tlie bride, he married Nellie Emily Porter, born in 
Joliet, Illinois, January 6, 1859, the adopted daughter of a 




Mk. ( h Aiu.K.s Tkarson and Family. 
wealthy family in Joliet. Illinois. To this union were born 
Clara Louisa, April 15, I'Syg; George Edward, March 3, 1880; 
William Nutt, September 22, 1882; Royce Eugene, March 7, 
1884. These children have had good advantages for school- 
ing, and the boys have an eye for business. Their father 
enlisted in Company B, Fourth Infantry, Illinois National 
Guard. June 5, 1878; promoted to corporal February 12, 1880; 
promoted to sergeant January 12, 1881; commissioned second 
lieutenant August 10, 1883; commissioned first lieutenant 
July II, 1884; resigned July 1 1, 1887. This is a very interest- 
ing famil)'. They have a very pleasant home and seem to be 
prosperous. 

The second son, Fred, was educated in Joliet, Illinois, at 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



67 



an early age. He started in to learn the printers' trade, and 
he thoroughly mastered the business, becomingttre-4er#«ia«.- 



'•"N" 



>v 




Captain F. W. 1'earsox. 
in a large establishment in Joliet, Illinois. He enlisted in 
Company B, Fourth Infantry, Illinois National Guard, July 
2, 1887. He passed through the grades of promotion and was 
commissioned captain. He brought his company up to a 
high standard in drill and discipline, and when war was 
declared with Spain he was among the first to offer his com- 
pany for volunteer service. On April 26. i8g8, he took his 
company to Springfield, Illinois. On May 7, i8g8, they 
enlisted as Company B, Third Regiment, Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, and he was elected and commissioned captain. 
They started for the front, and on July 27, 1898, they landed 
on the Island of Porto Rico, and Captain Pearson was the 



68 



THE CONNF.CTICUT BRANCH OF 



first man to step foot on thf Porto Rican soil. He looked 
well after the health of his men, insisting on cleanliness in 




Mrs. .Iknnik .1. Tkakson and IIkk 'I'wo Hovs. 

camp; and as a result his company all returned in health 
whicli was very extraordinarw The regiment returned to 
Illinois November ii. 189S, and was mustered out January 
24, 1899, and he returned to his old place in the printing 
office. He received many very flattering notices through the 
press of his gallantry as an officer. On January 25, 1884, 
at the home of the bride, in Joliet, Illinois, he married 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 6g 

Jennie Johnson, a verj' estimable lady. She was born August 
i8, 1866, and received her education in Joliet, Illinois. To 
this union were born: Charley Harold, August 21, 1887, and 
Fred Richard, March 26, i88g. They are boys in all the 
word implies, smart and active. They are receiving their 
education in the city schools and good training at home. 
This is a prosperous, happy, interesting family. They now 
live with Father and Mother Pearson, but expect soon to 
build a home of their own. 

Grandpa and Grandma Pearson are getting well along in 
years. They are members of the Presbyterian church and 
have always lived a consistent Christian life. He has always 
been like an own brother to me, and I shall never forget the 
very kind and tender care I received at his home when I was 
a sick soldier on furlough. They can no\v look back over a 
well-spent life, full of good deeds and many sacrifices for the 
amelioration of mankind. 



70 



THK CONXKCTlCUr HRANCH OF 



9. Roxyan Cluircliill, born in Hubbardton, Vermont, 
March 27, 1841. She seemed to be the odd one of the 

famil}-. having light, flaxen hair, 
all the rest had dark-brown or 
black hair. She was not quite 
four years old when father died. 
She attended the district school 
and lived with mother. Later 
she attended the Brandon Sem- 
inary and taught school. On 
November 16, 1859, at the home 
of her sister, Sylvia, she married 
Morton J. Kinne}-, of Hydeville, 
\'ermont, where they went to 
keeping house. Soon after she 
was married she was taken sick. 
Mus. KoxvAN K-.NNEY. j^er sickucss lasted for several 

years, and on June 16, 1866, she died. She was a great suf- 
ferer; yet, through all her suffering, she was cheerful and 
hopeful. She had a beautiful voice; and I remember of 
visiting her when she was compelled to lie on her back all 
the time, yet she seemed to delight in singing and I never 
heard a voice more sweet. She is singing with the angels 
now and I hope to recognize that voice "some sweet day, by 
and by." Her husband was an estimable man. 





THE CHUkCHILI, FAMILY IN AMERICA. 7I 

The S. J. Churchill Family. 

10. Samuel Joseph was born in Hubbardton, Vermont, 
November i, 1842. At the age of two liis father and only 
brother died. At the age of four he com- 
menced going to school, not especially to 
learn but to be gotten out of the way. At 
the age of seven Fayette Holmes was ap- 
pointed his guardian and he was bound out. 
After he was eight lie was not permitted to go 
to school in the summer time, but kept at 
home to work, thus having only three months" 
schooling a year. At the age of fourteen he 
left the old home and started out for himself: 

. S. .1. ('HCRCHIT.r.. 

and he never got any more floggings. He ai +.1. 

saved his money and soon was able to attend school six 
months in a year. He lived with Deacon Luke Ward, of 
West Rutland, Vermont, one year and got $6.00 a month 
when out of school, and worked for his board while going to 
school. At the end of the year he had $28.00 saved. During 
this year he united with the Congregational church. He 
attended singing school once a Vv'eek all the year, and having 
a good voice he was taken into the church choir. He then 
attended school at the academy in Sudbur\'. Vermont. In 
the spring of 1861 he went to DeKalb county, Illinois, and 
worked for C. W. Broughton. He had engaged to teach a 
school in tlie fail, but instead, at the first call for 300,000 
men, he enlisted August 6, 1861, as a private in Battery G, 
Second Illinois Light Artiller}' and was mustered into the 
United States service at Camp Butler. Not being able to get 
equipments the battery was detained in this camp for about 
five months, drilling every day and became very proficient. 
In December he was taken down with the measles, which was 
very prevalent in camp. He tried to get out of the hospital 



72 THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 

too soon and took a relapse and barely escaped with his life. 
About February i, 1862, we received our battery of six guns 
and were sent to Kentucky, opposite Cairo, Illinois. We had 
no horses, so could not move our guns. Most of the bat- 
tery was placed on gun-boats, went up the river and partici- 
pated in the battle of Fort Donaldson, February 16, 1862. 
Soon after this we received our full equipment of horses and 
were ordered to Columbus, Kentucky. We were the first 
troops to enter this rebel stronghold. From thence we were 
ordered to Hickman, Kentucky. On Marcli 31, 1862, we 
were ordered out by night to Union City, Tennessee, and 
surprised a rebel camp early in the morning, completely rout- 
ing them, capturing the garrison and many prisoners and 
eating the breakfast the rebels had cooked. The rebel officer 
in command escaped on a mule bareback in his night clothes. 
We returned to Hickman, Kentucky, and soon received 
order to march to Trenton, Tennessee, where we camped for 
some time. In the fall we joined General Grant's expedition 
at Lagrange, Tennessee, and marched south with the inten- 
tion of capturing Vicksburg, Mississippi. Our battery was 
attached to General Logan's Second Division and General 
McPherson's Seventeenth Army Corps. We proceeded south 
on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad to Oxford, Mississippi. From 
iiere our battery was ordered on an expedition with the cav- 
alry to Coffeeville, Mississippi, where, on December 5, 1862, 
we encountered a large rebel force which was many times 
greater than ours. The battle was fierce and lasted for several 
hours. Our loss was ten killed and fifty-four wounded. We 
managed to retreat, saving our supply train, back to O.xford, 
Mississippi. 

The base of supplies for the Union army was at Holly 
Springs, Mississippi, and on December 20, 1862, the rebels 
raided the town, capturing 1,000 of our troops and burning all 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 73 

our supplys. We were camped then on the Tallahatchie 
river, where we were obliged to subsist three weeks on corn 
that was foraged in the country. I will never forget the joy 
we felt when we heard the whistle of the first train that brought 
us rations. We then marched to Memphis, Tennessee, and 
in the spring of 1863 we were ordered down the Mississippi 
river on transports to Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, where Gen- 
eral Grant massed a large army for the attact on Vicksburg, 
Mississippi. From thence we marched to Hardtimes Land- 
ing, Louisiana, below Grand Gulf, Louisiana, where we took 
a transport to cross the Mississippi river and get in the rear of 
Vicksburg, Mississippi. In crossing the river another boat 
collided with us which caused our boat to sink. We had 
a very narrow escape from being drowned. We lost all our 
guns, nearly all of our horses, (except what broke away and 
swam out); but all our battery was saved except two men, 
who were in the stern of the boat with the horses and could 
not get out. This was before daylight of May i, 1863. We 
had to retrace our march back to Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, 
where we embarked for Memphis, Tennessee, to get a new 
equipment of guns and horses; also clothing, for we had lost 
everything we had, except what was on our backs. We soon 
got our equipment and started again for Vicksburg, Miss- 
issippi, this time by way of the Yazoo river. Our battery was 
stationed in front of Fort Hill, which was undermined and 
blown up. We were in the siege and under fire about six 
weeks before the surrender. I saw Rebel General Pemberton 
when he came out with a fiag of truce to negotiate terms 
of surrender with General Grant. They stood just in front of 
our battery for some time, and the rebel soldiers — whom we 
had not seen for weeks— came upon the breast-works to look 
over. We did the same thing. It was a beautiful sight — 
down the line of fortifications as far as we could see were the 



74 'i'HE (.ONNKCI K I r IlKANCH OK 

soldiers in blue on one side and the rebels in gray on the 
opposite side all standing in bold relief, where but a few 
uioinents before not one on either side dared to show his hearl. 
Our batter\- was among the first to niarcli into X'icksburjr, 
Mississippi, the morning of Jul\ 4, 1863 It was a glorious 
Fourth to us. Our battery was stationed here for some time, 
and man\- of the boys got sick. 1 among the rest was taken 
down with the malarial fever, and had 1 not got a furlough 
just when 1 did I would have been buried with the innu- 
merable in southern soil. 1 was placed on the United States 
iiospital boat, and that was the last I knew until I reached 
Cairo. Illinois, five days later. I was taken from the boat 
and placed on the cars, and by the time I reached Joliet, Illi- 
nois. I was barely able to walk. 

I shall never forget the hearty welcome and the good nurs- 
ing I received from my sisters and brother-in-law in Joliet, 
Illinois. As soon as I was able I returned to my battery, but 
the chills and fever did not leave me: and I have suffered at 
times all my life from the effects of that sickness. Soon after 
my return to the army we were ordered to Memphis, Tennes- 
see, to join General A. J. Smith's command, the Sixteenth 
Army Corps. On October 14, 1863, we took part in the battle 
of Brownsville, Mississippi. Some of my battery were killed; 
I don't remember how many, but I do remember John Weir. 
The top of his head was shot off by a cannon ball and his 
brains spattered in my face. Soon after this we were ordered 
to Union City, Tennessee, where we camped during the winter, 
which was very cold. Some of the soldiers froze to death in 
their tents. 

On January i, 1864, nearly all of my battery re-enlisted as 
veteran volunteers, and I among the rest. This entitled us to 
a veteran furlough. I received my furlough in April, 1864, 
and I went home to Sudbury, \'ermont, where, on May 4, 



THE CHUKCHII.I, KA.MII.V IN ANKRICA. 75 

1864, I was married to Adelia Augusty Holmes, to whom I 
was engaged in i860, returning to my battery which was then 
at Memphis, Tennessee. I was promoted to corporal and 
had command of a gun detachment of eight men and the right 
gun of our battery. On July 1 4, 1864, was the battle of Tupelo, 
Mississippi, our battery taking a very conspicuous part. My 
comrades cliarged the killing of Rebel General Falkner and 
his fine gray stallion, (as he was leading the rebel charge on 
our line), to the explosion of a shell shot from my gun. I 
do not care to know that I killed any one, even a fine horse; 
but 1 did my best at sighting the gun upon that occasion. 
This was a \ ery bloody battle in which about 700 rebels were 
killed and wounded. The Union loss was eighty-five killed 
and 453 wounded. Our victory was complete. We also par- 
ticipated in the battles of Harrisburg, Mississippi. July 13. and 
Old Town Creek Jnl\ 15. and Hurricane Creek August 14 16 
and 22. 1864. 

Soon after we were ordered to Jefferson Barracks at St. 
Louis, Missouri, and. during Rebel General Price's invasion 
of Missouri, from September 24. to October 28, 1864, we 
were on the march ail the time — across the state of Missouri 
— camping one night in Kansas, thence back to St. Louis, 
marching about 700 miles without stopping to rest. Here, 
after two days" rest, the Sixteenth Army Corps, under General 
A. J. Smith, embarked for Nashville. Tennessee, to join Gen- 
eral Tliomas; and a part of the corps arrived in time for the 
Franklin battle. November 30, 1864. During the siege of 
Nashville. Tennessee, by Rebel General Hood, we were in 
line of battle two weeks, firing more or less ever\- day. We 
could hear the rebel band play. '-Whose been here since I'se 
been gone."" To answer them our band w'ould play, "Yankee 
Doodle."" On December 15. 1864. the Union line advanced 
and attacked the rebel armv in their fortifications. We had 



76 THt CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 

to march for some distance under a galling fire from the 
enemy before we could get our battery in position. Number 
one, of my gun detachment, seemed very anxious to get into 
the fight. He would hug the cannon with both arms and say, 
"We'll give it to 'em. won't we, old Bett?" Old Bett was 
his pet name for the gun. Our battery was ordered in posi- 
tion on high ground in plain view of two rebel batteries, one 
to our right and the other directly in front, about 240 yards 
distant, which were doing their best to dislodge the Union 
forces, and several men and horses were killed before we 
could get our battery in position. My gun, a 12-pound 
Napoleon, was located about eight feet to the right of a large 
brick house. At the command "load!" number one of the 
cannoneers (referred to above) took the sponge staff, sponged 
the gun, and while waiting for number five to come up with 
the ammunition, a volley from the rebel batteries caused him 
to become terror stricken. He dropped his sponge staff and 
ran behind the brick house. His terror spread to the other 
cannoneers, who also tied, and neither command or entreaty 
could move them to return to their gun. It was there that I 
won my medal of honor. In the face of a terrible rain of 
shot and shell from the enemy I loaded and fired my gun 
eleven times alone, before assistance came. The rebel bat- 
teries were silenced and driven back and the Union forces 
took an advanced position. The result of the battle is well 
known in history. Over thirty-two years after I received the 
following letter: 

War Department, Washington City, January 20, 1897. 

My. Samuel /. Churchill, Late Corporal Battery G, Second Illinois 
Light Artillery: 

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that, by direction of the President 
and in accordance with the act of Congress, approved March 3, 1863, pro- 
viding for the presentation of medals of honor to such officers, non-com- 
missioned officers and privates as have most distinguished themselves in 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 77 

action, the Assistant Secretary of War has awarded you a naedal of honor 
for most distinguished gallantry in action at the battle of Nashville, Tennes- 
see, December 15, 1864. 

In making the award the Assistant Secretary used the fol- 
lowing language: 

"This non-commissioned officer, commanding one gun detachment, and 
when the enemy's batteries opened upon his gun compelling the men of his 
detachment for a short time to seek shelter, stood manfully at his post and 
for some minutes worked his gun alone." 

The medal has been forwarded to you to-day by registered mail. Upon 
the receipt of it please advise this office thereof. 

Very respectfully, 

t. T. AlNSWORTH, 

Colonel U. S. Army. 
Chief Record and Pension Office. 

The part within the quotation marks is taken from the 
Official War Records, Volume XLV, Series i, Part i, page 
492. 

I did not know until then that a "special mention" had 
been made of me in the official war records. My reply to the 
letter was as follows: 

Lawrence, Kans.\s, January 25, 1897. 

Chief of the Record of Pension Office, IVar Defart7ne7it, Washington , 
D. C: 
Dear Colonel: Yours of January 20 was received the 22d, and the 
medal was recei\'ed the 23d. I am very happy to be accounted worthy to 
receive such an honor, and I assure you that I appreciated it very highly 
and thank you most sincerely. I just want to say to you that there was a 
private soldier in my battery that deserves a medal of honor as much or 
more than I did. It was at the battle of Nashville, December 15, 1864; he 
was the wheel driver of the caisson and his position at the time was com- 
paratively out of danger. He saw my situation as I was manning the gun 
alone, and asked permission of the lieutenant to come and help me, which 
was given and he came boldly up where the missiles of death were flying 
thick and fast and said to me, "Let me help you; the lieutenant says I 
can." I never was so glad to see a man as I was to see him. He took the 



78 I'HE CONNF.CTlcri' IIRANCH OF 

sponge staft and went to work like an f)ld warrior, and he was ever after 
that my number one of the gun detachment, and the number one that left 
me had to take his place as driver. That was true gallantry. His name 
was J. A. Thorp, private. Battery G, Second Illinois Light Artillery. I 
have not heard from him since the war, and know not if he is dead or alive 
I shall alwavs hold him in grateful remembrance as a true and bra\ e patriot. 
Thanking you again for your kind remembrance, I am very truly, 

Samuel J. Churchill 

This letter was published and copied by many papers all 
over the country, and finally 1 received the following letter 
from the man himself: 

Montrose, K.^nsas, February 6, 
Sam///'/ /. CliiD'cliill . 

Fkieni) and Cumkadh: In reply to your letter of inquiry, which has been 
published, will say that J. A Thorp is still in the land of the living and 
well. I came to Kansas in the spring of 1S83, and settled here in Jewell 
county. My occupation is farming. For a good many years I ha\e Ijeen 
trying to locate some of the Battery G boys, but never have succeeded in 
hearing from any of them until I .saw your letter, and it came to me in such 
a way that it does me lots of good — it re\ ives old memories I congratulate 
you for the medal of honor that has been awarded you for your heroism at 
the battle ol Nashville, Tennessee, December 15, 1S64. It was the men 
that stood by their guns in the heat of battle that won the victory, not the 
skulkers And when number one dropped the sprnge staff and skulked to 
the rear and you were left alone, I could hardly wait for my relief to come, 
and when I took that sponge staft there wasn't a man on earth thit felt any 
Itetter than I did. If you remember I jniUed my jacket oft and rolled up 
my sleeves as if I was going to chop wood. I really thought for a while 
that we were going to get the worst of it, but the victory was ours, and the 
old battle stained flag — Stars and Stripes -looked brighter than ever before. 

I must say that words are inadequate to express my gratitude for the part 
that you have taken in my behalf, and if I should succeed in obtaining a 
medal it will be through your kindness Ciive me the address of as many 
of the battery boys as you know, as I woukl like to hear from ever\ one of 
them. Hoping to liear from vou soon, I remain as ever. 

Your friend, 

James A. Thorp. 

Formerl)' of Batterv G, Second Illinois Light Artillery. 



THK CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AiSIERlCA. 79 

I liave seen this comrade several times since and have done 
my best to get him a medal, but have failed for the reason 
that no "special mention" was made in the ot^cial war rec- 
ords of what he did. I am very proud of my medal, and shall 
hand it down to my posterity whom I trust will prize it enough 
to take good care of it. The time will come in the future 
generations when this medal will be looked upon as a great 
relic of a soldier of the war of the rebellion. The medal 
is engraved as follows: 



: The Congress 




: to 




: Corp. Samuol .1. Clnui 


■liill, 


: l?iUteiy"(;-':.M III. l>. 


A.. 


'. for 




: GALLANTItV 




:U 




: Niislivillt', Teiii).. 




i . Dec. 1."), 1S64. 





To return to my war record: On December i6, 1864, we 
fought from early morn until 4 p. m. . when we succeeded in put- 
ting the rebel army to flight, capturing many cannon and 
small arms. The Union loss was 400 killed and 1,740 wounded; 
the rebel loss was 4,462 killed and missing. We followed up 
Rebel General Hood's retreat as far as Eastport. Tennessee, 
where we were obliged to stop on account of our rations giv- 
ing out; and for two weeks we subsisted on dry corn. Soon 
after this the Sixteenth x\rmy Corps was ordered down the 
river to New Orleans, Louisiana, and took ship for Mobile 
Bay, Alabama, where was one of the last strongholds of 



8o THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 

the rebellion. From March 25th to April 12, 1865, we were 
fighting continuously in the siege of the Spanish forts, Forts 
Blakeley and Mobile, Alabama. Our victory was complete. 
I had become quite an expert as a marksman and in these 
battles I succeeded in dismounting several rebel cannon. I 
was promoted to quartermaster sergeant of my battery, but 
wlien there was a fight on hand a man was detailed to take 
my place in issuing the rations, and the captain requested me 
to take my old place as gunner, which I was glad to do. We 
marched from Mobile to Montgomery, Alabama. While on 
this march the news came, through rebel sources, of the 
surrender of Rebel General Lee at Appomattox Court House, 
Virginia. April g, 1865, of 26,000 prisoners. This gave us 
great joy, and we realized that the war was over. The next 
day came the news from the same source that President 
Lincoln had been assassinated. We could hardly believe this 
at first, but it cast a deep gloom over the whole army. Stal- 
wart men cried like children. 

From Montgomery, Alabama, we received orders to pro- 
ceed to Springfield, Illinois, and be mustered out of service, 
and on September 5, 1865, I was honorably discharged, hav- 
ing served forty-nine months and participated in nineteen 
battles. I was never wounded but had very many narrow 
escapes. I proceeded to Sudbury, Vermont, to join my wife, 
who had been watching, waiting and praying for me through 
these long weary years of war. How many, many times I 
had been cheered and encouraged b}' her loving and prayer- 
ful letters that came so constantl}'. Her spirit seemed like a 
guardian angel round about me continually, for I knew that 
she was praying for me without ceasing; but it was all over 
now and our cup of joy was overflowing. 

My wife was born February 5, 1844, in Hubbardton, Ver- 
mont. She was the youngest daughter of Pliney and Vesty 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMKRICA. 



8l 



(Caldwell) Holmes, and the granddaugliter of Walter and 
Abigail (Bradford) Holmes, a direct descendent of Governor 
Bradford of the Plymouth 



Colony. 

There were five children 
in the Holmes family: i, 
Fayette, who married my 
sister, Sylvia; 2, Benjamin 
Franklin, born in 1826, 
married Katherine Rice, 
and had four daughters: i, 
Eva A.; 2, Lillie; 3, Belle; 
4, Gertrude. They are all 
living. The mother died 
in Lawrence, Kansas, in 
1880: the father died in 
Wichita, Kansas, in 1889. 
He was buried in Law- 
rence Oak Hill cemetery, 
by the side of his wife. 
Third, Charles, born 1829, died in New York City about 1876. 
Fourth, Aurilla, born 1837, married Henry Graves; had one 
son, Charles. She now lives with her son in Poultney, Ver- 
mont. Fifth was my wife. 

Father and Mother Holmes died near together in Sudbury, 
Vermont, about 1875. They were buried in the old grave- 
yard in Hubbardton, Vermont, where there are six generations 
of Churchills buried, including my father, mother and brother. 

Soon after I returned from the army I bought some fine 
Merino sheep, and together with my brother-in-law, B. F. 
Holmes, shipped a car load to Wisconsin, where I sold them, 
and in February, 1866, I moved to Lee's Summit, Missouri. 
I marched over this country during the war and thought it 




Adelia a. Churchill. 



82 IHK (OXNKC'IlCUr r.KANCH OT 

was the best land for farminti I had ever seen, and I have 
never changed lu}' mind, except the Kaw bottom land in 
Kansas. 1>. F. Holmes, Koyce Pearson and myself bought 
eighty acres each, joining. I built a small house on my 
eighty and improved it for a home. My wife came in April. 
Holmes cann' later and built a house. His famil\ came in 
the fall of iS66. The countr}' filled up very rapidly b}- eastern 
people, and we soon had a good neighborhood. We lived on 
this farm three years, then sold and bought ibo acres four 
miles south of Lee's Summit, Missouri, all prairie. I built a 
much larger house here and improved my farm, and fortune 
seemed to smile on our home for a season: but hard times set 
in, failure in crops, drouth and grasshoppers — all combined 
to make life burdensome. But notwithstanding all this we 
were ver\' happy and did the best we could. Our home was 
blessed with five children: i, Adelia May, b. June i, 1867; 2, 
Frank Holmes, b. September 2<S, 1868: 3, Estella Maud, b. 
February 26. 1870, died August 9, 1870; 4, Winifred Grace, 
1). July 23, 1873: 5, Lena Blanch, b. October 12, 1874. 

In the summer of 1872 my wife made a visit to the old 
home in \'ermont, taking with her Ma}' and P^ank. She was 
a perfect picture of health at that time. In the summer of 
1876 she was taken sick with consumption of the blood and 
gradually wasted awa)'. The doctors gave her up. I called 
I^r. O'Conner, of Pleasant Hill, who had been recommended 
very highly. He thought he could cure her if he could have 
her where he could see her every day, but he lived twelve 
miles away. I moved her to Pleasant Hill and we had some 
hope for a while, but alas! nothing could help her. She 
crossed over the river March 31, 1877, at Pleasant Hill, Mis- 
souri. Her last words were: "My Father is looking me 
straight in my face and saying, 'Well done, thou good and 
faithful servant, enter ye into the joys of heaven.'" Her 



IHK CHURCHILL I'AMU.V 1\ AMERICA. 83 

mind was clear to the end. She closed her eyes in sleep. 
Thus ended a perfect life on earth, to begin the life eternal, 
where death never comes. The funeral was held at the 
Congregational church in Greenwood, Missouri, Rev. S. G. 
Griffith preached the sermon and we buried her beside little 
Stella in the Greenwood cemetery. Her life has been a bene- 
diction to me all these }ears. I feel that I have more loved 
ones in heaven than I have on earth. The responsibilities of 
life never seemed so great to me as at that time, with four 
little, motherless children to care for: but I did not shrink or 
loose my courage. My farm was heavily mortgaged and I 
concluded to let it go for the debt. I had met with heavy 
losses by signing notes to help my friends. I had a good deal 
of stock and grain which I sold, and after paying every dollar 
tliat I was held for and all my own debts, I had about $3,000 
left as the result of thirteen years of hard work in Missouri. 

I found that it was impossible to keep my children together, 
and, as Adelia had requested that her sister Rilla should take 
Lena, and my niece, Mrs. Addie Scutt, wanted to take Win- 
nie, I concluded to break up housekeeping. 1 sent May to 
Joliet, Illinois, to live with my sister, Louisa Ward. Frank 
went to Cameron, Missouri, to live with my niece. Mrs. Julia 
Smith, and I took Winnie and Lena with me, leaving Winnie 
in Joliet, Illinois, and taking Lena to Salisbury, Vermont, to 
live with her Aunt Rilla Graves. 

It was very hard to be separated from my children, but 
I was looking to their interest — not mine. I took the general 
agency for Kansas and Missouri to sell the Scutt barb wire, 
manufactured by H. B. Scutt & Co., of Joliet, Illinois, and 
started out to travel. I succeeded so well at this, that after 
traveling two years I was able to commence a business of my 
own as wholesale and retail dealer in barb wire. I located 
in Lawrence, Kansas, and my trade ran up to $200,000 a year. 



84 



THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OK 



On August 4, i<'^7g, at the liome cf Mrs. F. P. Nichols, 
(sister of tlie bride), in Council Grove, Kansas, I married 

Louana Grant, born Feb- 
ruary 26, 1844, at Coopers- 
town, New York. She re- 
ceived her education in 
S t a r k e y Seminary, New 
York, and Albion College, 
Michigan. She was the 
youngest daughter of three 
children. Her brother, 
Solon E. Grant, was a 
captain in a Michigan reg- 
iment during the civil war. 
He died at Independence, 
Kansas, August 27, 1879. 
Among her relatives were 
several who attained na- 
tional fame during the civil 
war. Her father. Rev. 
Jacob Grant, was born in Columbia, New York, graduated 
from Hamilton College and entered the Baptist ministry, in 
which he continued until he died, in January, 1854, at the age 
of 54. He was the son of a Revolutionary hero who received 
a medal for bravery in that conflict. Her mother, Louana, 
was a daughter of Major Clough and was born in Madison, 
New York. She died when her daughter and namesake was 
only three weeks old, 

I rented a home in Lawrence and sent for my children — 
May and Frank came at that time. Winifred came the next 
■Christmas and Lena in 1882. My object in settling in Law- 
rence was to give my children the best advantages for an 
education. They all graduated at the Lawrence High School. 




Mus. l>()iiA.\A (i. CHrncmi.r.. 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



85 



Winifred and Frank made a record of not being tardy or 

absent for five years. Frank had an eye to business and took 

a course at the Lawrence 

Business College. All the 

girls attended the State 

University. 

May graduated in the 
class of 1888, and received 
the degrees of A. B. and 
B. D. Her grades were 
excellent. She taught 
school in Ottawa, Kansas, 
two years and had good 
success as a teacher. On 
November 7, i8go, shemar- 
ried Alva Leslie Sloan at 
the home of his sister, Mrs. 
Patterson, in Portland, 
Oregon. Mrs. Sloan, Alva's 
mother, accompanied May ^^^^- ^^-^^ o. Sloan. 

from Kansas to Portland, and was present at the wedding. 
Alva L. Sloan was born April 11, 1865, at Ashland, Ohio. 
He attended school at Fairfield, Iowa, and the High School 
at Newton, Kansas, and six years at the Kansas State Univer- 
sity, graduating in the class of i88g, receiving the degree of 
B. C. E. He accepted a position under A. S. Riffle in build- 
ing a railroad in Oregon, and later with the Bear Valley 
Irrigating Company in southern California, and lived at Red- 
lands, California. This compan}' failed and he lost several 
hundred dollars in salar}'. He was then employed in the. 
engineering department of the Santa Fe System, and now 
lives at Los Angeles, California. He has been promoted 
from time to time and now holds the position of masonry 




86 



IHK CONNK.CI ICU'I ISRANCH OF 



inspector and assistant engineer on the Southern California 
Railway — a part of the Santa Fe Sj'steni. He is the son of 

Samuel and Elizabeth 
(Sheridan) Sloan, natives, 
he of Westmorland count)', 
Pennsylvania, she of Ash- 
land. Ohio. They removed 
to Fairfield, Iowa, in iSb5, 
and to Kansas, near Hutch- 
inson, in 1878. The}'- now- 
live in Hutchinson, Kan- 
sas. Alva has a sister. 
.Vdella, and a brother, [ax. 
He is the <;randson o f 
|ames anil Sarah (Smith) 
Sloan. They had two sou;/ 
and one daughter. Fhe 
Sloan family are an honor- 
able, highl)- respected class 
of farmers, owning tluir 
own farms. They are a long-lived, hardy stock — four gener- 
ations now living- all I^epublicans and Methodists. Mr. and 
Mrs. Sloan enjo)- the confidence and respect of a large circle 
of friends. She united with the Methodist Episcopal church 
in Lawrence, Kansas, when a young girl; was organist of the 
Methodist Episcopal Sunday school for man}- years, and sang 
in the church choir. She has always been active and very 
efficient in church and Sunda\ school work. He is also a 
great worker; has been Sunday school superintendent, mem- 
ber of the official board and chorister, and is regarded as one 
of the substantial men of the church. 

To this union were born: Winifred Newlin. Decend)er 
25. i8gi, and Delia Marion. December 7. 1893. Thev are 




Mli. .\. I-. Sl.llAN. 



THE CHURCHILL KAMIL\ IK AMKklCA. 



«7 




very bright, smart, little girls, and well advanced in school. 
They have beautiful voices and are natural singers. 

My son, Frank, on whom 
1 had built so many fond 
hopes, at the age of 21, 
was stricken with con- 
sumption. We did every- 
thing that could be done for 
him — sent him to Denver, 
Colorado, in hopes that the 
change might be of bene- 
fit to him, but all that could 
be done was of no avail, 
lie died at his home in 
Lawrence, Kansas, J a n - 
uary 18, iHgi, and was 
buried in Oak Hill ceme- 
tery. The funeral was very 
large, and the many beau- 
tiful floral offerings gave evidence of the very high esteem 
and respect of his friends. He was a member of the mando- 
lin club and showed rare abilit\- in music, which he loved. 
He was a member of the drum corps of the Lawrence Repub- 
lican Club, and with the club attended the inauguration of 
President Harrison. It was on this occasion in Washing- 
ton that he contracted a severe cold from which he never 
recovered. My last hope of perpetuating the Churchill name 
was gone. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church and gave marked evidence of his faith in Christ, his 
Savior. He has gone to join his sainted mother in the home 
of the redeemed. 

Winifred graduated in the class of 1884 and received the 
degree of A. B. Her school work was accomplished ver} 
easily and her grade marks were always very high. She was 



\\ IMFKKl) AM) DKI.r.A Sl>OAN. 



88 



THE CONNECTICUT [BRANCH OF 



a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta fraternity and was a 
great favorite in society. She taught school in the city of 

Lawrence, Kansas, for 
one 3ear, and was elected 
for the next year. 

At her home, on Nov- 
ember 5, 1896, she mar- 
ried James Owen, born 
in Marshalltown, Iowa. 
June 7, 1872, the only 
son of Doctor W. R. 
and Martha (Andrews) 
Owen, natives, he of In- 
diana, she of Ohio. 
The}- havL- one daughter, 
Airs. Anna Ricker, of 
New York Cit}-. James 
was the grandson of Rev. 
Fhank n. cmKCHH.i.. James and Martha ( Bay- 

les) Owen of Indiana. He was a very noted Quaker preacher. 
James received his early education at Pueblo, Colorado, where 
his parents then lived. The doctor had a very extensive 
practice and was largely interested in real estate, owning 
much property. On account of his health he moved to San 
Antonio. Texas, where he has a very large practice. James 
entered the Kansas State University and graduated in the 
Art Class of 1893, and Law Class of 1895, receiving the 
degrees of A. B. and LL. B. He is a member of Phi 
Gamma Delta fraternity, and was very popular in societ}' and 
a leader in his class at the University. He immediately started 
in law practice at Pueblo. Colorado, and later at Cripple 
Creek, Colorado, where he has built up an extended practice, 
and is meeting with great success. He owns a very pleasant 




THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



89 



home in Cripple Creek, and has the best law office with the 
largest library in the city. 
Winifred united with 
the Methodist Episcopal 
church when a small girl. 
She was assistant superin- 
tendent and organist in the 
infant department of the 
Methodist Episcopal Sun- 
day school and was a great 
favorite with the children. 
She took lessons on the 
piano and acquired a fair 
musical education. She 
has a fine piano i n her 
beautiful home which has 
been blessed by the advent 
of little Margaret, born 
July 25, i8gg. "What is 
home without a baby?" Mhs. Winifked c. Owen. 

Mr. and Mrs. Owen have a bright future before them. 

Lena entered the School of Arts of the State University 
and succeeded well for over three and a half years, standing 
high in her class and only lacking three months' work of 
graduating in the class of 1895, when her health failed. Her 
great ambition was to prepare herself for foreign missionary 
work. She was a very proficient worker in the Epworth 
League, and for some time was the leader of the Junior 
League. She had a beautiful alto voice and sang in the 
Methodist Episcopal choir for some time. It was very hard 
for her to give up her church work and plans for future work. 
I shall never forget how sweet and patient she was through 
all her sickness, and how determined she was to get well, not 




90 



THE COiNNhCl ICUl MKAMCH OF 




giving up until the very last, when she became resigned and 
was read\ to go and niett lier Savior. She spent nine months 

in California with her sister 

Ma}', where she had the 
best of care and medical 
attendance, w i t h o u t im- 
provement. After return- 
ing from California she 
thought that a trip east 
might lulp htr, and she 
spent about eight months 
with her Aunt R i 1 1 a in 
Foultney. \'ermont, where, 
notwithstanding the tender 
care she received, she grew 
worse. Her case seemed to 
baffle the skill of all the best 
\ii:. .1 v.MKs owKN. physicians, ami not until six 

weeks before her death wrre the\al)le to give a correct diagnosis 
of her disease, which was tuberculosis of the bowels. She 
wasted away and ilietl Jul\' S, 1898. During htr thrre years' . 
sickness she seemed to be ripening for heaven, anil when tlie 
summons came there seemed to be a halo of light and glory 
that hlled the room: and methinks 1 heard the angels sing 
as they bore her awa\. Who could call her back to this 
work! of suffering? She had suffered a thousand deatiis. but 
now she is at rest in j^eace. We laid her body besitle her 
brother in beautiful Oak Hill. Man\" were the sweet and 
beautiful tokens of lo\e and respect brought b\- loving hands 
and sympathizing hearts to the last sad rites performed at the 
home. The choir sang: -'We shall meet beyond the river.' 
How sweet and realistic is that hope. Right here 1 wish to 
pay a tribute to the untiring, never-ceasing devotion, love and 




THE CHURCHILL KA.MILN IX AMKKICA. 



91 




care to my children by their stepmother. An own mother 

could not have done or sacrificed more for them, and I am 

sure that they will agree 

with me in this, and from 

the other side would come 

the sweet response, -'she 

hath done what she could." 

In icSSi 1 bought a home 
at 717 Ohio street, where 1 
lived five xears. In i<S83 1 
bought a lot joining the 
two lots 1 then owned, on 
the north, for which 1 paid 
$1,000; ami in i<S<S') I built 
a nice, new home. It was 
a twos tor}', ten -roomed 
house w'ith furnace and all 
m Oder n improvements, -^^"^^ JSL\i{(;aret dwen. 

with barn, which cost me over 54.000. We moved in August 
9. 189b, and I considered m3'self settled for life. I then sold 
the old home for $3,000, reserving a half lot which gave me 
75-foot front. This, addt-d to the cost of the building, gave 
me a property costing over $5,500. The same year I was 
offered $6,000 for my home, but it was not for sale. 

I continuetl in tht- barb wire business until 1886, when I 
closed out and went to Las Cruses, New Mexico, as general 
superintendent of the Oregon Mountain Mining and Smelt- 
ing Company, of which 1 was vice-president. After spending 
about $100,000 the enterprise waj; abandoned and the com- 
pany lost everything it hail invested. My loss in this was 
about $12,000. I was also stockholder in the Lawrence Sugar 
Refining Company which was a failure. I invested $1,000 
in this enterprise and it cost me $600 more to get out honor- 
ably, thus losing $1,600. 



92 



THE CONNECIICUT BRANCH OF 



In iSiS/ I invested about $7,000 in the grocery business — 
wholesale and retail — under tiie firm name of S. J. Churchill 

& Company, (the company 
was my wife). I continued 
this business for some time 
and was very successful, 
doing a large business; but 
the hard work and worry 
was telling upon me, and 
having, ( as I thought at 
the time), a splendid offer, 
I traded my grocery for real 
estate valued at $8,500. 
These were "boom times" 
which collapsed and real 
estate went down. I still 
own some of this property 
which is pajang a fair in- 
come. 

Since retiring from busi- 
ness I have been employed most of the time in clerical work. 
In 1893-4 I was Deputy Clerk of the District Court. In i8g8 
I was appointed Assistant Adjutant General of the Depart- 
ment of Kansas, Grand Army of the Republic, with offices in 
the state house at Topeka, under Department Commander D. 
W. Eastman, at a salary of $1,000 a year. My work that 
year was ver}' pleasant. I traveled nearly all over the state, 
attending G. A. R. reunions. I made many speeches and 
aroused the old boys with patriotic songs. At the Hutchinson 
encampment, held April 26 and 27, i8g8. Department Com- 
mander in his report to the encampment, said: "I would 
especially call attention to the report of Assistant Adjutant 
General Churchill and his work during the year. The books 
under his charge are models of neatness and correctness. 




Miss Lena Churchill. 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 93 

He has been faithful and painstaking in all his work. Not 
an unpleasant word has passed between us, and we part 
with the ties of comradeship firmly welded." The committee' 
appointed to examine my report to the encampment made the 
following report: 

To /he Departyyicnl of A'ansas, G. A. A'.: 

We, the undersigned committee on report of Assistant Adjutant General, 
do most respectfully report, that, after giving said report a careful consider- 
ation, and because of the faultless and thorough manner of its preparation 
and the methodical arrangement of the valuable information it contains, do 
unhesitatingly approve the same. It contains all that a painstaking mind 
can suggest, and because of its completeness furnishes a model for all 
future officers occupying this important station. We recommend this 
department pass a vote of thanks to our gallant Assistant Adjutant General 
for the efficiency he has shown. 

Respectfully submitted in F., C. and L., 

W. H Fletcher, 
F. P. Cochran, 
W. F. Hendry, 

Committee. 

I am now Assistant Inspector General of the Department 
of Kansas, Grand Army of the Republic, on the staff of 
the National Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the 
Republic. I am also assessor of the city of Lawrence, Kan- 
sas, which position I have filled for several years. My wife 
and I are members of the official board of the First Methodist 
Episcopal church. She is a great worker in the church and 
Sunday school, and for several years sang in the choir. I have 
filled tfie offices of class leader, chorister and Sunday school 
superintendent. I am a Past Grand of Halcyon Lodge, No. 
i8, I. O. O. F., Past Post Commander of Washington Post, 
No. 12, G. A. R,, and now its adjutant; also a member Law- 
rence Camp, No. 798, M. W. of A., in which I carry $2,000 



94 



THK COXNFAMlCi; I" I'.KANCH OK 



insurance. I served as councilinaii from the first ward in the 
citv of Lawrence. Kansas, for two \ears. 




\-. 4: 



/ 

-2, 



',• ^*: 























'In h: (111 K< II I 1,1. Ill I.MK. 

My wife is a lad\ of rare, social qualities, a great worker 
at home and verv efficient in the sick room. She is purely 
unselfish and will not spare herself in the least when she can 
help the sick at home or in the neighborhood. She is highl\' 
respected in church and society. 

In closing 1 will sa\- that the reason I have made more 
extended remarks in reference to my family than others, is 
because I know more about it. 1 have tried to be just and 
generous with all. In all my searchings I have not found one 
family skeleton to cover up, and this is remarkable, for it 
is said that every family has a skeleton to conceal. 

1 have traversed through 26S years of m)- line of the 



THE CHURCHII.I. FAMILY IN AMERICA. 95 

Churchill family in America, and I have not found a law- 
breaker in any form, an inebriate, or even a moderate drinker, 
or even a person of unsound mind: but all have been loyal 
to their country and loyal to their God — a band of patriots 
and Republicans. No one need be ashamed of the record, for 
it is glorious, and one to be proud of. 

Wishing all the readers of this little book a long, happy 
and prosperous life of usefulnesss, and consigning them to 
the tender love and constant care of Him "who doeth all 
things well," I bid you adieu, and subscribe my name this 
15th day of February, A. D., 1901. 

SaMUEI, J. CHUKIHILL. 



g6 THE CONNEC'lICUT BRANCH OF 



Appendix. 



BY ROBERT HAZZARD CHURCHILL, OF ^rARlNETTE, WISCONSIN. 

Continuation of the genealogical record of the Churchill 
family, beginning with '-Cyrus Churchill," taking up the 
history of his descendents where it was left by Samuel Joseph 
Churchill, down to the present time, compiled from family 
and public records gathered together after several months 
corresponding and careful research. I refer the reader to 
pages 9 to 1 6 for the first five generations. 

Sixth Generation. 

Cyrus Churchill, my grandfather, the third son of Joseph, 
the fifth generation, and brother of Amos Churchill, spent 
the latter part of his life in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he 
died. He was born February g. 1783, in Hubbardton, Ver- 
mont, died August 18, i860. He was married to Rachel 
Hustler February 23. 1813, who was born February i, 1789, 
died October 21, 1844. She was the daughter of Thomas 
Hustler, an Englishman who came to America as a soldier in 
the British army during the Revolutionary war. During an 
engagement between the British and American armies he 
deserted and joined the Americans and served during the 
remainder of the war. After the close of the war he remained 
in the army until after the defeat of St. Clair in 1791, obtain- 
ing the rank of major. During the war of 181 2 the British 
government offered a reward of $25,000 for his capture, but 
were not successful. He died about 1824. During the war 
with the Indians in the year 1790 his wife and infant daughter 
were captured by the red men. The mother was released in 
a short time, but the baby was held a prisoner for about six 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. 97 

years, finally being given up through an exchange of pris- 
oners. 

Cyrus and Rachel had six children, four sons and two 
daughters: Amy K. R.. b. December ii, 1813, died February 
6, 1886; Joseph T. H.. b. December 28, 181 5, now living; 
Sylvia A. J., b. August 5, 1824, died March 18, 1892; Lewis-, 
M.. b. October 3, 1827, now living; Elias C. , b. May 8. 1829, 
now living; Alfred W., b. May 10, 1832, died November 9, 
1864. 

Amy K. R. Churchill was never married, but always lived 
with her father, caring for him until his death and occupying 
the old home vintil her own death. 

Seventh Generation. 

Joseph T. H. Churchill left home when a young man. com- 
ing to Wisconsin in an early day and being engaged in the 
lumber business for a number of years. He was married at 
Pensaukee, Wisconsin, December 20, 1845, to Harriet /\rnold, 
widow of John Arnold, her maiden name being Harriet Hub- 
bard. He helped to build the first saw mill that was erected 
on the Oconto river at Oconto Falls, where he was living in 
I ^'5. He came thither by boat to Kewannee, Wisconsin, 
from Chicago: Then across the country through the woods 
to Green Bay. Soon after his marriage, he, with his wife, 
moved to the banks of the Wisconsin river, in the central 
part of the state, in the vicinity of Stevens Point. Here he 
was also engaged in lumbering. In the autumn of 1848 he 
moved to St. Louis, Missouri, floating down the Wisconsin 
and Mississippi rivers on a lumber raft. At this time there 
was one child. Robert H.. born April 10, 1847. From St. 
Louis, after a short stay, he moved to Beardstown, Illinois, 
where another child was born and died. From there he went 
back to Ypsilanti, Michigan, his old home. After a short 
stay there he moved to Brockway, St. Clair county, Michigan, 



gS THE CONNECTICUT BRANCH OF 

settling on a piece of land in the woods, which, together 
with his brother Lewis M.. he cleared up making a good farm 
in four years, when it was sold and the family moved to Grand 
Traverse, Michigan, and, after a year's stay there, moved 
again to Kaneville, Illinois, living there a few months, and 
then to Green Bay on January i, 1858. Since that time ta 
the present Joseph has lived at some point on Green Bay; 
his present residence being Abrams, Oconto county, Wiscon- 
sin. He is now over 83 years of age. He has never been 
very prominent in political or church relations; but for many 
years was a consistent member of the Baptist church at Fort 
Howard, as was also his wife and daughters. He was always 
a Republican in politics, and has held the office of justice of 
the peace many years in several different places where he has 
resided. Three years after the death of his wife he married 
Mrs. Mahala Sutton, widow of Hiram Sutton. September 14, 
1884, with whom he is living at present. 

Sylvia Ann Jennette Churchill, born August 5. 1824, died 
March 18. 1892; was married three times, her first husband 
being Daniel Lockwood. No children were liorn to her. 

Lewis Marquis Churchill was born October 3. 1827. and 
was married in about the year i860 to Rebecca Cordelia 
Mapes. They have no children. He came to Wisconsin in 
1858 with his brother, and is now living at Duck Creek, Wis- 
consin, four miles from Green Bay. Wisconsin. 

Elias Cass Churchill, born May 6. 1829, was married to 
Jennie Terwilliger. They have two children — both boys: 
Bayard, born September 5. 1863. and John, born February 
4, 1867. The family reside at Carson City, Michigan, at this 
time. Both sons are married and have children of their own, 
names not known. 

Alfred Wilson Churchill, born May 10. 1832. died Novem- 
ber 9, 1864. The cause of his death was a wound received 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. gg 

while serving as a volunteer in the war of the Rebellion, 
at the battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia, October ig, 1864. 
He was therefore with General Sheridan at the memorable 
battle after his ride from Winchester I have been unable to 
learn the number of the Michigan regiment or company. 
His wife's name is not known. They had no children. 

Joseph T. H. Churchill and Harriet Hubbard, his wife, 
had six children, three sons and three daugthers: Robert 
Hazzard, b. April 10. 1847, on the Wisconsin river; Hazstine 
J., b. July 25, i84g, at Beardstown, Illinois, died November 
25, i84g: Haswell Bennett, b. October 24, 1850, at Ypsilanti, 
Michigan: Ludrovick Marquis, b. June 15, 1852, at Brock- 
way, Michigan; Eveline Elizabeth, b. July 31, 1856, at Brock- 
way, Michigan, and married to George Wilson, October ig, 
1882. They had no children. Angeline Aristine, b. June 15, 
1858, at Ft. Howard, Wisconsin, married to Samuel A. Wood 
July 23, 1887, died March 5, i88g. They had no children. 

Eighth Generation. 

Robert H.. the first of the family was born April 10, 1847, 
on the Wisconson river at a place then known as Du Bays 
Landing, about half way between what is now Mosinee and 
Stevens Point. He was always an active worker in the cause 
of temperance, and for quite a number of years has been a 
member of the First Baptist church of Marinette. Wisconsin, 
where his home has been since 1876. He was married April 
14, 1874, to Amanda Amelia Moore also of Marinette. Wis- 
consin. She was born September 18. 1850. at Manitowoc 
Rapids, Wisconsin, and is also an active member of the First 
Baptist church, being one of the first to join after its organ- 
ization in 1878. The children of R. H. and A. A. Churchill 
are: Arthur Moore, b. September 5, 1876; Sarah Harriet, b. 
August 2g, 1881, died December 7, 1881; Myron Robert b. 
September g. i87g: Florence Ethel, (adopted) b. April 27, 



lOO THE CONNECTICUT IJRANCH OF 

1807. All the children are members of the First Baptist 
church of Marinette, Wisconsin. 

Haswell B. Churchill, the second son of J. T. H. and Har- 
riet Churchill was born at Ypsilanti, Michigan, October 24, 
1850. He has never married and his home has been in 
Marinette, Wisconsin, for the last fifteen years. 

Ludrovick M. Churchill, the third son, was born at Brock- 
way, Michigan. June 15, 1852. He was married to Sarah J. 
\'aughn January 13, 1878. Their home has been in Marinette, 
Wisconsin, for the last ten years. Their children: i, Allen 
H., b. June 26, 1879; 2, Eva L. . b. April 18. 1881; 3, Amy 
L.. b. May 28. 1883: 4. Harrold B., b. February 21. 1886; 
5, Robert R., b. March 21. 1888; 6, Myrtle C, b. April 27, 
1890; 7. Loyal N., b. September 12. 1892; 8. Laura S. , b. 
November 27, 1894; 9. Harriet. S., b. March 27. 1899. 

Eveline Elizabeth Churchill, the oldest daughter, was born 
July 31. 1856, at Brockway, Michigan. She was married to 
George A. Wilson October 19. 1882. No childen were born 
to them, and their present home is at Abrams, Wisconsin. 

Angeline A. Churchill, the second daughter, was born June 
15, 1858. at Fort Howard, Wisconsin. She was married to 
Samuel A. Wood July 23. 1887, and died March 5. 1889. 
They had no children. 

Synopsis of Miscellaneous Families. 

John Churchill, the seventh of the family of Samuel 
Churchill, of the fourth generation, and Thankful Hewitt, 
his wife, was born March 12. 1758. Married to Martha Bald- 
win. Died in 1805 or soon after. Their children were: 
I. John. b. April 13, 1787. died September 27, 1817; 2, 
Sylvester, b. October 7. 1788. died November 3. 1829; 3, 
Anice, b. October 14, 1790; 4, Electa, b. December 19. 1792; 
5, x\lvin, b. November 7, 1794; 6, Sylvina, b. August 25. 
1796, died October 14, 1797; 7, Jacob, b. November 10, 1798, 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. lOI 

died November 24, 18 16; 8, Sarah, b. January 14, 1801; 9, 
Irene, b. October 8, 1802; 10, Jotham, b. December 29, 
1804; II, Chauncy, b. October 3. 1808, died February 18, 1896. 

Chauncy Churchill, eleventh of the family of John, was born 
October 3, 1808, died February 18, 1896. Their children 
were: i, Sylvester C, b. December 20, 1834; 2, John W , b. 
August 13, 1836; 3, Olive C, b. February 16, 1838, died May 
II, 1838; 4, Sylvenas Amos, b. November 26, 1839; 5, Oliver 
C, b. March 22, 1841; 6, Martha A., b. 1842; 7. Olive C, b. 
1844; 8, Lafayette M., b. March 19, 18^6; 9, Chloe J., b. 
October 4, 1847; 10, Catherine H., b. 1849; 11. Caleb W., 
b. November 27, 1850; 12, Benjamin F., b. July 30, 1852; 

13, Jason M., b. April 2, 1855. 

Sylvenus Amos Churchill, fourth of the family of Chauncy, 
was born November 26, 1839, married Caslia Eadie and had 
three children when she died. He afterwards married Erminie 
Woodworth, by whom he had two children. Their children 
were: i, Herman, b. October 9, 1869; 2 and 3, Eadie and 
Edith, twins, b. August 20, 1875; 4, Sylvenus W. . b. July 

14, 1894; 5- Lois. b. 1896. 

Herman Churchill, of Menominee, Wisconsin, first of the 
family of Sylvenus Amos, born October 9, 1869, married Cora 
French June 15. 1898. 

William Churchill, the ninth of the family of Samuel 
Churchill, of the fourth generation and Thankful Hewitt, his 
wife, was born February 10, 1763, married to Eunice Culver, 
who was born December 31, 1762. Their children were: i, 
Russell, b. December 21, 1787; 2, Clarissa, b. September 28, 
1789; 3, Pamelia, b. October 2. 1791; 4, Darius, b. April 25, 
1793; 5> William, Jr., b. March 23, 1795: 6, Samuel, b. 
August 2, 1797; 7, Ezekiel, b. July 15, 1799; 8, Julius, b. 
March 20, 1802; 9, James, b. November 9, 1804; 10, Eunice 
C, b. May 20, 1807. 



I02 THE CONNECIICUT BRANCH OK 

Darius Churchill, fourth of the family of William and 
Eunice, born April 25, 1793. His children were: George, 
William, Samuel, Lowell and Caroline. The home of some 
of the sons is in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

William Churchill. Jr.. fifth of the family of William and 
Eunice, born March 23, 1795, married Isabella Johnson. 
Their children were: i, Washington; 2, Eleanor; 3, Clarissa; 
4, Benjamin J.; 5, William Henry: 6. James. 

Julius Churchill, eighth of the family of William and 
Eunice, lived to be 79 years of age. He was a doctor and on 
the day of his death rode fifteen miles to \'isit a patient. His 
children were: Russell. Cornelia, [ohn and Matilda. 

James Churchill, ninth of the family of William and Eunice, 
born November 9, 1804. His children were: i, Pamelia, b. 
June 20, 1828; 2. Joseph, b. October 22, 1829: 3. Helen E., 
b. February 23, 1835; 4, James, b. |une 19. 1837. 

Alfred and Joseph Churchill, brothers and sons of Worthy 
L. Churchill and Riihama Whelpley, married sisters by the 
name of Wilson. There is nothing known of Alfred's family. 
Joseph had two sons and one daughter and probably more. 
Two of his sons, W ortliy L. and H. D. Churchill, are now 
living at Alpena, Michigan; are wealthy lumberman. James, 
the third son of Worthy L. and Ruhama. was married; li\etl 
for a time in Watertown. Wisconsin, and died there. He 
had two daut{hters. 



THE (HURCHILT, FAMILY IN AMERICA. 



103 



The Voyage of Life. 

This blackboard drawing was made by S. J. Churchill and 
illustrated by the following lecture, which he delivered at the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and also at the Young Mens 
Christian Association Sunday afternoon meeting: 




Text — Matt. vii. 13. 14: •• Enter ye in at the strait gate: 
for wide is the gate, and broad is the way. that leadeth to 
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because 
strait is the way, which leadeth unto life and few there be that 
find it." 

That is -'few" compai'ed with the countless millions who 
are on the voyage of life with all its allurements. Here is 



I04 THE CONNFXTICUT P.RANCH OF 

where the "Devil goes forth as a roaring Hon." He does not 
interfere with those that are going down with the current, but 
to those that are struggling upward; he is ever striving to 
turn their course or switch them ofi into some of these various 
streams of vice; and we hear men crying: (sung') 

" 'Which way shall I take i" ' shouts a voice on the night; 
I'm a pilgrim, a-\vearied and spent is my light, 
And I seek for the palace that rests on the hill; 
But between us a stream lieth, sullen and chill. 

Choris — Near, near thee, my son, is the old way-side cross, 
Like a gray friar cowled in lichens and moss. 
And its cross-beam will point to the bright golden span, 
That bridges the waters so safely for man. 

Which way shall I take for the bright golden span. 
That bridges the waters so safely for man? 
To the right' to the left' Ah! me! If I knew; 
The night is so dark and the passers so few. 

Chorus — 

See the lights from the palace in silvery lines! 
How they pencil the hedges and fruit-laden vines. 
My fortune! my all! for one tangled dream 
That shifts thro' the lilies and wastes on the stream." 

Chorus — 

The writer of these lines evidently got in the ••Slough of 
Despond," but looking across ( pointing out ) saw the " Light- 
House of Jesus." There is great hope for him. This is what 
might be called the ups and downs of life. There is no stand- 
ing still. The current will take us down unless we make 
some efiort and look to Jesus, who is ever ready to help us. 
No voyager was ever lost that looked to Jesus and trusted 
His light to guide him. The starting point in the " \'oyage 
of Life " is near the ••Crystal Fountain." Every child that 
is born into the world is pure, and they remain so until they 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMERICA. I05 

arrive at the age of accountability. Jesus said: " Sutler little 
children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is 
the kingdom of heaven." How we love and enjoy the chil- 
dren. We are sometimes annoyed by their crying, and we 
walk the floor at midnight with our child in our arms trying 
to soothe the pain, but in heaven there is no pain or crying. 
The children will always be joyous and happy. There will 
be nothing to mar our joy with them there. I have three 
dear children there, but how could I speak of them sadly. 

" I who watched while the grace 

Of eternity's wonderful beauty grew over their face. " 

The advance of Christianity in this new century depends 
largely upon the young fathers and mothers of to-day in train- 
ing their children. We drive them • away from God by 
thoughtlessly deceiving them, thus teaching them to deceive. 
Jesus said: " Except ye become as a little child, ye can in no 
wise enter the kingdom of heaven." We must have that 
simple, child-like faith and trust and take God at His word, 
never doubting. To illustrate the child's faith, I will relate 
an incident. When my sister was a missionary in Bitles, 
Turkey, she was very sick. Her friends had lost all hope, 
and had gathered around the bedside, when her little boy 
came running into the room with a shining face and said, 
" Mamma is going to get well. I have been praying for her 
and the Lord has answered my prayer." From that moment 
she was better and recovered from her sickness in a short 
time, and is living yet. How important it is that the children 
are brought to Christ before they pass out of the clear waters 
that flow from the crystal fountain into the turbid stream, 
full of temptation and vice, down the voyage of life until they 
land in skeptic swamp, there to flounder in the quagmire of 
infidelity and never "look up to the hills whence cometh our 
strength." 



I06 IHK CONNECTICUT BRANCH 0¥ 

Heb. iii, 12: "Take heed brethren lest there be in any of 
you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God." 

Rom. iii. 3: --For what, if some, did not believe shall their un- 
belief make the faith of God without effect." No. A truth will 
always stand whether we believe it or not. The infidel would 
take from us our hope, peace and joy. and give us nothing but 
dark forebodings. Our children are often taught infidelism 
at school. 1 speak from experience, and know what I am 
talking about. One of the qualifications of a teacher, which 
should be required, is that tht-y believe in the fundamental 
teachings of the Bible and accept the faith of Christ. It 
wouki liL-ip thtm to keep sweet. 1 shall never forget a 
teacher 1 had when a small boy. and \ery bad. Instead ot 
flogging me she would keep me after school and talk to me. 
Then she would take me by the hand and kneel down and 
pray fur me. Those prayers ha\e been ever before me. 

Prov. xxiii. 29. -50, 32: '• Who liatli woe? who hath sorrow? 
who hatli contentions?^ who hath babbling? who hath wounds 
without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They tiiat tarry 
long at till- wiut-: tliev that go to st-ek mixt-d wine. At the 
last il bitctli liki' a sepent and stingc-th like an adder." 

This tells thf awful story, it wt- could get rid of this gigan- 
tic monster what a happy world this would be. How many 
children would ha\c shots to wear and plenty to eat, that 
are now half clad and halt starved. When we compare the 
saloon and cluirrh wr tuui that there is Si 00 to the saloon to 
Si. 00 spent for church. '1 he saloon is open 168 hours to six 
in church. Intoxicating liquor is the cause of ninety-four per 
cent of the cirminals and ninety per cent of the paupers. So 
manv nuii sa\ thev can drink or thev can l<r^t it alone. I 
believe tliat if this class of tipplers would stop drinking it 
w-ould put an end to the saloon business. I am sure it would, 
for the drunkartis all come from this class. After a young 



THE CHURCHII.I, FAMILY IN AMKRICA. 107 

man has navigated this filthy stream of intemperance and 
drank of its dregs he is a fit subject to plunge into the 
"River of Vice." He will take his '•jug" with him. 

Gal. V, 19, 20. 21: -'Now the works of the flesh are mani- 
fest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, 
lasciviousness. idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variances, emula- 
tions, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings. murders, 
drunkenness, revellings and such like: of the which I tell you 
before as I have also told you in time past, that they which 
do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." 

This needs no comment — ''Sunday Resort Lake." — Exod. 
XX, 8, 9, 10: '• Kemember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 
Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work; but the 
seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou 
shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, 
thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy 
stranger that is within thy gates." 

There seems to be a growing tendency to make Sunday a 
gala day for excursions, picnics, games, etc. The church 
should stand squarely against Sabbath desecration in every 
form, and see to it that the church is not represented at these 
Sunday festivals. Did you ever think that when yovi ordered 
your meat to be brought Sunday morning you were asking 
some one to break the Sabbath? 

"Lake Unfaithful." — This is a resort for Christians. How 
many of us have been there? Prov. xxv, 19: "Confidence in 
an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, 
and a foot out of joint " 

How important that we should maintain the confidence of 
the world by being faithful to what we profess. " Wherefore 
by their fruits ye shall know them." A religion that will not 
keep us sweet all the time is not worth much. It is the 
unfaithful Christian that brings reproach upon the church. 



Io8 THE CONNFXTICUT IIRANCH OK 

We have heard much about backsliders. Some one has 
suggested that this creek should have been a large river or 
lake. But many are classed with the backsliders that never 
took a slide forward. " Backsliders' Creek. '" — Prov. xiv, 14: 
"The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; 
and a good man shall be satisfied from himself." We get out 
of the Christian life just what we put into it. If we are cold 
and indifferent we have no sweet peace, joy. and rest. 

"Slough of Despond." — Psalm x.xv, 17: "The troubles of 
my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my dis- 
tresses." David got into this slough; but he erred unto the 
Lord, and the Lord brought his feet out of the miry pit and 
placed theni on the solid rock. There is hope for the des- 
pondent Christian, but not much joy. 

How about this Pilgrim? Gal. v, 22. 23: "But the fruit of 
the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuftering, gentleness, good- 
ness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no 
law." This Pilgrim has all of these qualifications. You will 
notice that he has a firm grip on the wheel that guides his 
boat, and his eyes are fixed upon Jesus, "the light of the 
world," and methinks I hear him singing: 

" Every day, every hour, let me feel thy cleansing power; 
May thy tender love to me draw me closer, closer, Lord to thee." 

He is sailing under the banner of freedom, that heaven- 
born banner. It is an inspiration from the Father of light, 
truth, and wisdom. Its blue field was cut from the blue 
dome of heaven, studded with stars and brought down to 
earth: its stars are a beacon light to the oppressed of every 
tribe and nation: its stripes are taken from the east when the 
first rays of the morning sun paint in crimson hue the reced- 
ing clouds, and tell us of a new day of light, joy, and hope. 
Ohl glorious inspiration. Oh I beautiful emblem. It stands 



THE CHURCHILL FAMILY IN AMKRICA. lOQ 

for the highest type of Christian civiHzation in the world. 
This Pilgrim is a loyal Christian; loyal to God, and loyal to 
his country. The Christian warfare is worth much more than 
it costs. We have Jesus for our captain; and my constant 
prayer is expressed in these words, which I will sing: 

" Lead kindly light amid the encircling gloom; lead thou me on. 
The night is dark and I am far from home; lead thou me on. 
Keep thou my feet, I do not ask to see 
The distant scene; one step enough for me. 

So long thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on, 
O're moor and fen, o're crag and torrent till the night is gone. 
And with the morn those angel faces smile. 
Which I have loved long since and lost awhile." 

What could be more fitting as the Pilgrim on the "Voyage 
of Life" sails into eternal life, than the last words of Mr. 
Moody: •' Earth recedes and heaven opens before me. If this 
is death there is nothing awful here? It is sweet. This is 
bliss. Do not call me back. God is calling me, I must go. 
There is no valley here. It is all beautiful." 



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